What breeds were used for making Leghorns?

[Nenad]

I was curious, what breeds were used to make these super layers? Only thing I found was that other light breeds were used for leghorns but not specified.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Leghorns are a breed, not a hybrid. I assume you mean to inquire about their origins. Fairly certain they originated from land race chickens.

 

[Nenad]

Leghorns are a breed, not a hybrid. I assume you mean to inquire about their origins. Fairly certain they originated from land race chickens.

Yes, I meant which breeds were used to make them. They are the best egg layers and I was wondering which breeds exactly are in them since they are used for almost all layer hybrids.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Yes, I meant which breeds were used to make them. They are the best egg layers and I was wondering which breeds exactly are in them since they are used for almost all layer hybrids.

Wikipedia has a very nice and appears to be accurate article about the Leghorn and their origins. Look under the history section.

 

[Nenad]

Wikipedia has a very nice and appears to be accurate article about the Leghorn and their origins. Look under the history section.

Looked but there are no breed names that were used for their creation. If you can find it, please write it. Thanks

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Looked but there are no breed names that were used for their creation. If you can find it, please write it. Thanks

Well these older breeds are known as “land races” as previously mentioned by another poster. This means they develop naturally overtime in their environment. Since the Leghorn has been around for couple hundred years now it will be difficult to trace exactly what breeds they came from. All chickens though are descended from jungle fowl.
If you read in the history section, looks like the original birds were crossed with Malay and Minorca to increase their size. @The Moonshiner , anything to add?

From Wikipedia:

History

The origins of the Leghorn are not clear; it appears to derive from light breeds originating in rural Tuscany. The name comes from Leghorn, the traditional anglicisation of Livorno, the Tuscan port from which the first birds were exported to North America. The date of the first exports is variously reported as 1828,[6] "about 1830"[8] and 1852.[9] They were initially known as "Italians"; they were first referred to as "Leghorns" in 1865, in Worcester, Massachusetts.[10]

The Leghorn was included in the American Standard of Perfection in 1874, with three colours: black, white and brown (light and dark). Rose comb light and dark brown were added in 1883, and rose comb white in 1886. Single comb buff and silver followed in 1894, and red, black-tailed red, and Columbian in 1929. In 1981 rose comb black, buff, silver, and golden duckwing were added.[9]

The breed was first introduced to Britain from the United States in 1870, and from there re-exported to Italy.[6] White Leghorns that had won first prize at the 1868 New York Show were imported to Britain in 1870, and brown Leghorns from 1872.[11]: 161  These birds were small, not exceeding 1.6 kg in weight; weight was increased by cross-breeding with Minorca and Malay stock.[11]: 161  Pyle Leghorns were first bred in Britain in the 1880s; gold and silver duckwings originated there a few years later, from crosses with Phoenix or Japanese Yokohama birds. Buff Leghorns were first seen in Denmark in 1885, and in England in 1888.[12]

 

[Aunt Angus]

Well these older breeds are known as “land races” as previously mentioned by another poster. This means they develop naturally overtime in their environment. Since the Leghorn has been around for couple hundred years now it will be difficult to trace exactly what breeds they came from. All chickens though are descended from jungle fowl.
If you read in the history section, looks like the original birds were crossed with Malay and Minorca to increase their size. @The Moonshiner , anything to add?

From Wikipedia:

History

The origins of the Leghorn are not clear; it appears to derive from light breeds originating in rural Tuscany. The name comes from Leghorn, the traditional anglicisation of Livorno, the Tuscan port from which the first birds were exported to North America. The date of the first exports is variously reported as 1828,[6] "about 1830"[8] and 1852.[9] They were initially known as "Italians"; they were first referred to as "Leghorns" in 1865, in Worcester, Massachusetts.[10]

The Leghorn was included in the American Standard of Perfection in 1874, with three colours: black, white and brown (light and dark). Rose comb light and dark brown were added in 1883, and rose comb white in 1886. Single comb buff and silver followed in 1894, and red, black-tailed red, and Columbian in 1929. In 1981 rose comb black, buff, silver, and golden duckwing were added.[9]

The breed was first introduced to Britain from the United States in 1870, and from there re-exported to Italy.[6] White Leghorns that had won first prize at the 1868 New York Show were imported to Britain in 1870, and brown Leghorns from 1872.[11]: 161  These birds were small, not exceeding 1.6 kg in weight; weight was increased by cross-breeding with Minorca and Malay stock.[11]: 161  Pyle Leghorns were first bred in Britain in the 1880s; gold and silver duckwings originated there a few years later, from crosses with Phoenix or Japanese Yokohama birds. Buff Leghorns were first seen in Denmark in 1885, and in England in 1888.[12]

Yep. That's what I meant land race, and not really a "hybrid" chicken as we know it. Thanks!

 

[Aunt Angus]

And here's Saffron for illustration of just how pretty they are when not stuffed in overcrowded commercial cages:

Girlfriend is hard to photograph! She is always on the go!