Care & how-to
Leghorn Chickens: The Classic White-Egg Layer
The Leghorn is the classic white-egg layer: a light, active Italian breed that lays more eggs on less feed than almost any other chicken. A good hen can lay well over 250 white eggs a year. The trade-off is personality. Leghorns are busy, flighty and noisy, rarely go broody, and suit keepers who want eggs and room to roam more than a lap pet.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 14, 20264 min read2 sources
History: from Livorno to the American egg industry
The Livestock Conservancy traces the breed to small landrace chickens of Tuscany, in northern Italy, exported through the port of Livorno, which English speakers turned into "Leghorn." Birds reached America in the late 1820s, and a shipment of Brown Leghorns that arrived in Mystic, Connecticut, in 1852 is considered the direct ancestor of today's heritage flocks. White Leghorns followed in 1853.
American breeders refined the colors and developed rose-combed strains, and the American Poultry Association recognized the first varieties in 1874. In the 20th century, the White Leghorn became the foundation of the commercial white-egg industry. The extension service still names it the principal white-egg producer. Most Leghorns today are industrial strains, while heritage flocks are kept by smaller breeders. For a Leghorn flock, our backyard chicken supplies and chicken coop guide cover housing, feeding and nesting.
Appearance and varieties
Leghorns are slim, upright, game-like birds with a narrow breast and tight feathering. They have white earlobes, yellow skin, beak and legs, four toes, and either a large single comb or a neat rose comb. The Livestock Conservancy lists weights of about 6 pounds for roosters and 4.5 pounds for hens, and bantam Leghorns are smaller still.
White is by far the most common color, but the American Poultry Association recognizes many varieties, including Light Brown, Dark Brown, Black, Buff, Silver, Red, Black-Tailed Red, Columbian and Golden Duckwing, in single and rose comb forms. The white earlobes are a good clue to egg color: as the extension service notes, white lobes generally mean white eggs.
Egg production
Egg laying is why people keep Leghorns. The Livestock Conservancy gives a range of about 150 to 320 white eggs a year depending on strain, and the extension service notes that White Leghorns can lay 260 or more in twelve months while converting feed to eggs very efficiently. Heritage strains tend to lay a little less than commercial white layers, but for longer.
Leghorn hens are not broody and make poor mothers, so they rarely stop laying to sit on a nest. If you want to hatch Leghorn eggs, plan to use an incubator or a broody hen of another breed. All that laying takes its toll: the Livestock Conservancy notes that laying hens often live about four to six years, shorter than many heavier breeds.
Temperament and behavior
Leghorns are very active and alert, always foraging and scratching. Some strains are flighty, startle easily and fly well, so they may clear a low fence or roost in trees if they can. They are not naturally aggressive, but their energy suits them best to flocks of similarly active breeds rather than docile ones such as Silkies or Cochins.
They tolerate confinement but get bored in small spaces, which can lead to feather pecking, so give them plenty of room or supervised time to range. The Livestock Conservancy also notes that they are noisy, which makes them a poor fit for many suburban yards, and they are not the best choice for families wanting cuddly, hands-on pets.
Housing, climate and care
Leghorns are hardy and adaptable, tolerating both heat and cold well, which is one reason the breed spread worldwide. Their large single combs can get frostbite in harsh winters, so rose-comb strains are a better fit for the northern states. A dry, well-ventilated, draft-free coop prevents moisture building up, which is what really causes frostbite.
Because they fly, a covered chicken run or a tall fence is helpful, and clipping the flight feathers on one wing can keep them in. Provide a complete layer feed, free-choice oyster shell for strong shells, and grit if they eat anything other than feed. Call a vet who treats poultry if a hen stops eating, sits hunched and fluffed, or strains without passing an egg, which can signal egg binding.
Is a Leghorn right for you?
Choose Leghorns if you want the most eggs for your feed bill, white eggs specifically, a hardy bird for hot or variable climates, or an active forager for a large property. They pair well with other active breeds and are easy to raise from quick-feathering chicks.
Look elsewhere if you want calm birds for children to hold, quiet hens for a neighborhood setting, a broody hen to hatch chicks, or a dual-purpose bird for the table. Many backyard chicken keepers keep a couple of Leghorns for the egg basket alongside friendlier brown-egg breeds.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace advice from a veterinarian who treats poultry.
Common questions
How many eggs does a Leghorn chicken lay a year?
Depending on strain, Leghorns lay about 150 to 320 white eggs a year. White Leghorns can lay 260 or more in twelve months, which is why the breed underpins the commercial white-egg industry.
Are Leghorn chickens friendly?
Leghorns are not usually aggressive, but they are active, flighty and wary of handling. They are better suited to keepers who value eggs over cuddles than to families wanting lap chickens.
Do Leghorns lay brown eggs?
No. Leghorns lay white eggs. Their white earlobes are a common clue, since breeds with white lobes generally lay white eggs and breeds with red lobes generally lay brown ones.
Do Leghorns go broody?
Rarely. Leghorns were bred to keep laying and have largely lost the urge to sit on eggs. Use an incubator or a broody hen of another breed if you want to hatch their eggs.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
