Leghorns Don't Get Enough Credit!!!

[ShrekDawg]

Leghorns have been the best egg layers I have ever had. ISA Browns come in 2nd. When I got into different patterns of Leghorns they matured as slow as other birds and not as fast as the white ones. Their eggs were smaller than the white leghorns too. The white leghorns foraged better too and turned over leaves and turned them into organic dirt faster than any other birds I have had. I give White Leghorns all the praise in the world until I have to contain them. Escape artists.

My Leghorn is such a great forager!!! My other birds are so lazy compared to her except maybe the Easter Eggers.

 

[Compost King]

My Leghorn is such a great forager!!! My other birds are so lazy compared to her except maybe the Easter Eggers.

From time to time I find a bird that forages as well as a Leghorn and its usually a mutt. I did have some Old English Game Bantams that foraged as well as a Leghorn. But its rare to find a bird that does compare to a foraging leghorn.

 

[ShrekDawg]

From time to time I find a bird that forages as well as a Leghorn and its usually a mutt. I did have some Old English Game Bantams that foraged as well as a Leghorn. But its rare to find a bird that does compare to a foraging leghorn.

Very true!! I thought my other birds foraged pretty well before I got her some of them do do okay but my Orpington and Speckled Sussex are so lazy they stand on shovel when we dig holes for them lol

 

[black_cat]

I've recently accidentally gotten a leghorn (we were told we were getting 3 barred rock hens) (we got 3 red sex links that they told us were RIRs) (and also a leghorn) She was initially very scared of me, and would move away from my hand, but now she runs toward my hand as she knows it never brings bad things. I haven't gotten eggs from her yet, but that is probably because we just got them yesterday. Any tips/pros/cons to hear about for a new leghorn owner?

 

[Compost King]

I've recently accidentally gotten a leghorn (we were told we were getting 3 barred rock hens) (we got 3 red sex links that they told us were RIRs) (and also a leghorn) She was initially very scared of me, and would move away from my hand, but now she runs toward my hand as she knows it never brings bad things. I haven't gotten eggs from her yet, but that is probably because we just got them yesterday. Any tips/pros/cons to hear about for a new leghorn owner?

I noticed that if you have very few leghorns and a bunch of other birds the leghorn will be the last one to get close to you but once they are comfortable with you they will fly up to your shoulder when you are handing out meal worms. I had Red Sex Links, Barred Rocks and leghorns (only 2) and discovered that they could be super friendly if they got something out of the deal. I was so shocked that one of the leghorns just flew up to my shoulder and stuck her beak in the meal worm bag. Then she was eating from my hands.

 

[WVBirdsAndBees]

I've recently accidentally gotten a leghorn (we were told we were getting 3 barred rock hens) (we got 3 red sex links that they told us were RIRs) (and also a leghorn) She was initially very scared of me, and would move away from my hand, but now she runs toward my hand as she knows it never brings bad things. I haven't gotten eggs from her yet, but that is probably because we just got them yesterday. Any tips/pros/cons to hear about for a new leghorn owner?

Tips: They are adventurous and like to forage. Ideal for large covered runs or free ranging. Will fly over fences and roost high if left out.

Pros: Unmatched laying productivity. Large eggs. Good feed to egg ratio. Fairly heat tolerant. Fun, active personalities.

Cons: Can be flighty but varies by bird. Large floppy combs can get frostbite. Smallish, definitely not a dual purpose bird if you use your chickens for meat.

Rarely broody but that could be a pro or con depending on the situation.

Good luck with yours! We'll always have a few in our flock.

 

[black_cat]

Tips: They are adventurous and like to forage. Ideal for large covered runs or free ranging. Will fly over fences and roost high if left out.

Pros: Unmatched laying productivity. Large eggs. Good feed to egg ratio. Fairly heat tolerant. Fun, active personalities.

Cons: Can be flighty but varies by bird. Large floppy combs can get frostbite. Smallish, definitely not a dual purpose bird if you use your chickens for meat.

Rarely broody but that could be a pro or con depending on the situation.

Good luck with yours! We'll always have a few in our flock.

Thanks for the advice! I hadn't thought about the comb, I'll have to remember that. I'm not using them for meat, just eggs! Once the stress of moving dies down, I'm sure that I'll get many wonderful eggs from her. Rarely broody is a pro for me, I don't want to deal with unwanted broodiness! Heat tolerant is also good as it can get quite hot here.

 

[black_cat]

I noticed that if you have very few leghorns and a bunch of other birds the leghorn will be the last one to get close to you but once they are comfortable with you they will fly up to your shoulder when you are handing out meal worms. I had Red Sex Links, Barred Rocks and leghorns (only 2) and discovered that they could be super friendly if they got something out of the deal. I was so shocked that one of the leghorns just flew up to my shoulder and stuck her beak in the meal worm bag. Then she was eating from my hands.

Wow, that's amazing! Mine seems to be at the bottom of the pecking order, she gets picked on a bit. Is that normal?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Wow, that's amazing! Mine seems to be at the bottom of the pecking order, she gets picked on a bit. Is that normal?

I think it depends on the bird. Mine is very bold and stands up to the other girls but I also have a very mixed flock. I find chickens tend to pick on different looking ones. So since you have 3 red ones and only the one white one that may be contributing. For me, I don’t really have any of the same breeds or looks so variety is normal for them haha

 

[black_cat]

I think it depends on the bird. Mine is very bold and stands up to the other girls but I also have a very mixed flock. I find chickens tend to pick on different looking ones. So since you have 3 red ones and only the one white one that may be contributing. For me, I don’t really have any of the same breeds or looks so variety is normal for them haha

That makes sense. I'm hopefully going to expand my run soon, so that should also help.