Brown Leghorns?

[Bigwig]

I am thinking about getting some brown leghorn hens next spring. I have heard leghorns tend to get sick more than most other breeds. Is this true? How good is their egg production, cold hardiness, and temperament towards other chickens?

 

[Michael OShay]

I've had Leghorns over the years and have not found them to get sick any more than any other breeds. Brown Leghorn egg production is very good (5, sometimes 6 large white eggs per hen per week), although if you are raising them strictly for egg production, the Browns will not match the lay rate of the strains of White Leghorns that are used in laying houses (these WLs are egg laying machines). As far as cold hardiness goes, if you live in a really cold winter area, the large combs and wattles of Leghorns are very susceptible to severe frostbite. Some BYC members have said that putting Vaseline on the combs and wattles prevents frostbite, but I've only had mixed success with Vaseline. If you live in a really cold winter area and want hens with high egg production, I would personally suggest going with Black Sex Links instead of Leghorns.

 

[Bigwig]

How good is the black sex-link’s production?

 

[Michael OShay]

How good is the black sex-link’s production?

Along with Red Sex Links, they are the best brown egg layers in the world churning out 6-7 eggs per hen per week (over 300 per year per hen per week). The only hens that will match or exceed sex links are the best laying strains of White Leghorns which I mentioned in my previous post, however in really cold winter weather my sex links have outlaid even my White Leghorns. My Black Sex Links have been especially persistent in really cold weather and their eggs are the largest on average of any of the dozens of breeds and hybrids I've had over the years with double yolks not being uncommon.

 

[Bigwig]

Thanks! I will have to try Black Sex Links next spring when I add to my flock.

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks! I will have to try Black Sex Links next spring when I add to my flock.

You're welcome.