Description White Leghorn Chicken Breed History and Origin The White Leghorn Chicken is one of the most recognized egg-laying breeds in the world. The breed was admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1874 and traces its development through poultry breeding programs in Italy, Denmark, and England. Today, the White Leghorn remains one of the most important production egg breeds globally and is considered a sustainable heritage chicken breed with recovering conservation status. White and Brown Leghorns share a common Italian heritage. Cackle Hatchery® has been developing its pure White Leghorn production bloodline since 1936, focusing on strong laying performance, feed efficiency, and flock durability. Egg Production and Performance White Leghorns are best known for their ability to produce large to extra-large white eggs at very high rates. Hens commonly lay around 280 eggs per year, with strong producers sometimes reaching 300 to 320 eggs annually under ideal conditions. This breed is extremely efficient at converting feed into eggs. White Leghorns typically consume about 125 grams of feed per day, making them one of the most economical production layers available. Because they are non-setters, White Leghorns rarely go broody. This allows for more consistent, uninterrupted egg production compared to many dual-purpose breeds. Temperament and Management White Leghorns are considered a very active and athletic breed. They mature quickly and are known for excellent foraging ability. This makes them ideal for free-range and organic egg production systems where birds need to supplement their diet naturally. They are highly predator-aware and can often avoid danger due to their alert behavior. However, the white feather coloring can make them more visible in open environments. White Leghorns are typically less people-oriented than heavier backyard breeds. They may be more nervous or flighty and often prefer less handling. Size and Breed Characteristics White Leghorns are considered a lightweight production breed, not intended for meat production. Mature hens typically weigh around 4½ pounds, while roosters average about 6 pounds. Pullets weigh about 4 pounds, and cockerels average close to 5 pounds. They prefer higher roosting locations than many breeds and often choose roost heights between four and eight feet. For breeding purposes, they perform best with a mating ratio of approximately twelve females to one male. Fertility commonly ranges between 65 and 80 percent, with chick gender accuracy typically falling between 80 and 85 percent when professionally sexed. Availability and Breed Offering Cackle Hatchery® currently offers the production type White Leghorn. At this time, we do not offer an exhibition line of this breed. At limited times of the year, we also offer White Leghorn Fertile Hatching Eggs. White Leghorn Chicken FAQs Are White Leghorn chickens good egg layers? Yes. White Leghorns are considered one of the best egg-laying breeds in the world and can produce 280 or more white eggs per year. What color eggs do White Leghorns lay? They lay large to extra-large white eggs with strong shells. How much feed do White Leghorns eat per day? White Leghorns typically consume about 125 grams of feed per day, making them very efficient production birds. Are White Leghorns friendly chickens? They are generally more independent and less interested in handling compared to heavier backyard breeds. Are White Leghorns good for free range systems? Yes. They are excellent foragers and perform very well in free range and organic egg production environments. Are White Leghorns heritage chickens? Yes. The White Leghorn is considered a recovering sustainable heritage breed with long historical importance in egg production.
