Leghorn Chicken Facts

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Breed: Leghorn chicken

Origin: The original Leghorn chicken came from Italy, according to The Standard of U.S. Perfection, but the breed’s many sub-varieties originated or were developed in England, Denmark and America. The different varieties of Leghorns were admitted to the Standard between 1874 (Single-Comb Browns, White, and Blacks) and 1933 (Rose-Comb Light and Rose-Comb Dark).

Varieties:
Large Fowl: Single Comb (Brown, White, Black, Buff, Columbian, Dark Brown, Light Brown) Rose Comb (Brown, White, Light, Dark) Red-Tailed Red, Black-Tailed Red
Bantam: Black, Dark Brown, Silver, Buff, Light Brown, White

Leghorn Chicken Facts

• Temperament: Active. Females are non-sitters.
• Egg Color: White
• Egg Size: Large
• Laying Habits: Very productive. 200-250 eggs would make a good year.
• Skin Color: Yellow
  
• Large Fowl Size: Rooster, 6 pounds; Cockerel, 5 pounds; Hen, 4.5 pounds; Pullet, 4 pounds.
  
• Bantam Size: Rooster, 26 ounces; Cockerel, 24 ounces; Hen, 22 ounces; Pullet, 20 ounces.

Standard Description: Leghorn chickens comprise a group characterized by great activity, hardiness, and prolific egg-laying qualities. The females are non-sitters, very few of them exhibit a tendency to broodiness. Aside from the manifold points of beauty in type and color found in all varieties of Leghorn chickens as exhibition specimens, their excellent productive qualities are valuable assets of the breed. Breeders, exhibitors, and judges should pay regard to the Standard weight of Leghorn chickens.

Comb: Male: Single; fine in texture, of medium size, straight and upright, firm and even on head, having five distinct points, deeply serrated and extending well over the back of head with no tendency to follow the shape of the neck; smooth and free from twists, folds or excrescences. Rose; medium sire, square in front, firm and even on head, tapering evenly from front to rear and terminating in a well-developed spike that extends horizontally well back of the head; flat, free from hollow center and covered with small, rounded points.

Popular Use: Eggs, meat, and exhibition

It really isn’t a Leghorn chicken if it: Is a brown egg layer, has red covering more than one-third the surface of ear-lobes in cockerels and pullets and more than one-half in cocks and hens; males and females more than 20 percent above or below standard weights.

Leghorn Chicken Owner Quotes:

“It is the most chicken-looking chicken.” — Ken Mainville, Backyard Poultry, August-September 2013.

 “The Leghorn chicken is one of my favorite chicken breeds. I have had both White and Brown Leghorns. They are hardy, curious birds with tons of personality. They reliably produce large white eggs and are some of the best layers in my flock. When no one else is producing, my Leghorns are still going strong.” – Pam Freeman at Pam’s Backyard Chickens

Learn about other chicken breeds from Backyard Poultry, including Orpington chickens, Marans chickens, Wyandotte chickens, Olive Egger chickens (cross-breed), Ameraucana chickens and many more.