Leghorn

Looks how to spot one

Tight, sleek plumage on a slim, upright body

A light, alert, game-like bird with a narrow breast and an upright stance. It has a large single or rose comb, red eyes, white earlobes, clean yellow legs and yellow skin. Hens lay white eggs.21

Personality what they are like

Energetic, independent and quick. Leghorns prefer foraging over cuddles, can fly well and tend to keep a little distance from people, so they suit keepers who enjoy watching an active flock rather than handling birds.24

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. They are busy foragers and capable fliers, so a covered or high-fenced run and plenty of space to roam suit them best.24

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Chickens keep their own plumage in order by preening and dust bathing, so the owner's job is a dry dust-bath spot, clean dry bedding, daily flock checks and regular egg collection. Hens are excellent layers, commonly 250 to 300 white eggs a year, and they rarely go broody.514

Home where they are happiest

Needs a secure, dry, well-ventilated coop plus an outdoor run. The RSPCA suggests roughly 1 m² of indoor space per bird where possible; veterinary husbandry guidance gives 0.37 m² per large bird as a minimum, and Oregon State University Extension advises about 0.28 m² per bird when there is a run, or 0.75 to 0.9 m² without outdoor access. Allow at least 15 cm of perch per bird (more for big breeds), about one nest box per four hens, and a patch of dry soil for dust bathing. Leghorns fly well, so the run should be roofed or netted. As a Mediterranean breed they do well in warm climates.567

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete commercial ration forms the base: chick starter first, a lower-calcium grower feed until laying begins, then layer feed. An adult eats around 120 g of layers pellets a day, a little more in winter. Provide insoluble grit, oyster shell as extra calcium for layers, and fresh clean water at all times. In the UK, kitchen scraps may not be fed to poultry.56

Company who they like around

A flock bird that forages, roosts and dust bathes with companions, so keep at least three hens that get along.5

The story where it all began

Small, productive landrace hens from Tuscany were shipped to America from Livorno from about 1828 and were first sold as 'Italians' before the name Leghorn took hold by the 1860s. White birds reached Britain from America around 1870, where breeders made them somewhat larger, and the White Leghorn later became the foundation of many commercial laying strains worldwide.123

Recognised by the official bits

American Poultry Association (Standard of Perfection)

Recognised from the 1870s in single and rose comb forms, with further colours added up to 1981; over a dozen colour patterns today.2

The Poultry Club of Great Britain

Standardised breed, classed as soft feather light.3

The Livestock Conservancy

Listed in the Recovering category (for non-industrial strains).2