Winter Hardy Chicken Breeds

[lazy gardener]

I'm confused.. I thought leghorns were used to cross to create hybrids, but the leghorn breed is not itself a hybrid. Am I incorrect?

The leg horn is a breed, and not a hybrid. However, there are many colors, and even 2 comb styles (rose comb and straight comb) accepted in the SOP. There are even bantam leghorns.

Many different breeds are used to produce production hybrids, or sex links. Leghorn is only of many breeds that can be used.

 

[micstrachan]

Well, I’m not as experienced and only have a flock of nine, but so far, my Australorp, who is in her second year, has been my rock star winter layer. Disclaimer, though... I’m in California where it’s mild.

 

[Folly's place]

I want to add Chanteclers, harder to find, but very cold hardy and good layers. Mine are from Cackle hatchery, a good place to order in my experience.
Mary

 

[chickens really]

Here White Leghorns and ISA Browns are in the same category and listed Hybrid...Sex links are Duel purpose and then you get into Heritage Chickens..

 

[lazy gardener]

I find it interesting how things are different between Canada and US. In different conversations, we've found this to be so with various feeds and breeds! And I'm finding that my feed choices are far different than those of folks in the grain belt. Prices vastly different also!

 

[chickens really]

I find it interesting how things are different between Canada and US. In different conversations, we've found this to be so with various feeds and breeds! And I'm finding that my feed choices are far different than those of folks in the grain belt. Prices vastly different also!

Yes...Your so right...I get confused sometimes, not as much as before though..The lingo is so much different...

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Thanks again, everyone!

All Pullets can lay good their first year or longer till after first molt...Winter hardy means cold hardy...

Lol, true! I don't know what I was thinking when I put 'Winter Hardy'. I believe I did mean cold hardy?

My brahmas, leghorns, and Andalusian came from My Pet Chicken. Very pleased with them. You could get leghorns but you would need to watch their combs for frostbite.

Yep; I've heard that about the Leghorns. I only want one of the White ones, though. Thanks!

How so? Could you elaborate a bit? Just curious

That's what I had been thinking, haha. By the way, it's a little off-topic here, but...your horse is gorgeous!

Leghorns are flighty..Require 20% protein and do not handle confinement too well..Combs freeze and sometimes do not like Birds of another Colour.

I was going to say: I've read lots of different things; some saying they do handle confinement, and some saying they don't. Some saying they're sweet and friendly, and some saying they're not, that they're really skittish. Does that just depend, perhaps, how you raise it as a chick? Like if you attempt to befriend it and play with/handle it daily? Because I'm hoping if I get a White Leghorn, that it will be friendly. I want friendly birds. The Isabelle Leghorns are pretty, in my opinion. And the Exchequers, especially (I really like blue chickens and spotted ones). But anyways, then I saw what lazy gardener pointed out, saying that you're from Canada, so some stuff is different for us, or something like that. So never mind me saying some things out of curiosity, since you probably 'experience' things a bit differently, too, for terrible lack of way better wording (sorry ).

Oh, and, @sylviethecochin, referring to your post about the Cochins, I've read that some people get some that are really good layers/can lay at least up to four a week, I'm thinking? Is that only because they might have gotten them from a hatchery, where they're bred to be 'egg-laying machines'?

 

[PirateGirl]

If you want a white color bird that is cold hardy and mellow you could also looks at Delwares or Colombian Wyandottes. I think there's also an austra white, white orpingtons. If it's white eggs you are after, that's gonna g
Be a different set of breeds entirely.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you want a white leghorn simply to have a white bird, why not get a white rock? Or even a white Wyandotte? If you want white EGGS, you could get a rose combed leghorn! I am fond of the barred/cuckoo patterns. And find the Exchequer to be gorgeous, though I don't know their temperament or their laying ability. If you're looking for eye candy, check out the Silver Spangled Hamburg. Though they are reported to be a bit on the flighty side, I know a gal who had one who was very friendly. In their claim to fame, they are dubbed, "the Dutch Everyday Layer." They also have a nice little rose comb which would do well in cold weather.

 

[sbhkma]

That's what I had been thinking, haha. By the way, it's a little off-topic here, but...your horse is gorgeous!

Thanks. That's Gabe, my straight Egyptian Arabian. He was getting prepped for a magazine photo shoot in that pic.