White Leghorn Chicken
The
White Leghorn Chicken is the most popular breed of white egg laying chickens. They are the most popular commercial strain of white egg layers in the entire world. The
Leghorn Chicken originated in Italy and was first brought to North America in the 1850s under the name
Italian chickens. They name
Leghorn came from a mispronunciation of the sea in which they were frequently transported through called the
Ligurian Sea.
Leghorn Chickens will lay an astounding 280 large white eggs per year. This breed will mature rapidly, reaching a maximum weight of 3-4 pounds for hens and 4-6 pounds for roosters, and they are not considered a viable option for meat production. These birds tend to be flighty and generally avoid human contact. Leghonrs enjoy free range environments, but they are adaptable to confined living as well.
The Leghorn is a vocal and active bird as well as an excellent forager. They can quickly convert their food intake into energy and require little physical maintenance. These chickens are excellent fliers and will roost in trees if they are raised as free range birds.
***Note: If using White Leghorns for reproductive purposes rather than strictly egg production, look to buy the specific White Only Leghorns, as the regular White Leghorn chicken sold here may possibly have very few colored spots but are the best producers of large white eggs.***
