Red Leghorns

[RedLeghorns]

I’m looking for a reputable dark leghorn breeder to either buy some Red Leghorn hatching eggs or chicks. I have looked all over the internet and only Murray McMurray shows Red Leghorn chicks and they are completely sold out for the year. Can anyone direct me to a Red Leghorn breeder; a Red Leghorn club, or to someone who may guide me in the right direction? Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[sourland]

@The Moonshiner can you help here?

 

[The Moonshiner]

@The Moonshiner can you help here?

No help.
Murray McMurray has been the only source I've seen in a few years and yes they sell out very quickly every year. They had some still available back in November but don't know when they sold out.
You might have to wait until next October and start watching for them to post 2025 availability.
Side note: I've had their red leghorns and found they didn't thrive for me.

 

[RedLeghorns]

No help.
Murray McMurray has been the only source I've seen in a few years and yes they sell out very quickly every year. They had some still available back in November but don't know when they sold out.
You might have to wait until next October and start watching for them to post 2025 availability.
Side note: I've had their red leghorns and found they didn't thrive for me.

Thanks for your reply! Yea, I waited too late for Murray McMurray. I got two straight run—that was all they had left other than a few roosters. Were the Red Leghorns you got a really deep red? I have seen photos of Red Leghorns that are about as dark as a Rhode Island Red. I have had brown Leghorns before, but I am looking for that deep, dark-red color. I am sure I will try next October for Murray McMurray if I cannot find any breeders before then.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Thanks for your reply! Yea, I waited too late for Murray McMurray. I got two straight run—that was all they had left other than a few roosters. Were the Red Leghorns you got a really deep red? I have seen photos of Red Leghorns that are about as dark as a Rhode Island Red. I have had brown Leghorns before, but I am looking for that deep, dark-red color. I am sure I will try next October for Murray McMurray if I cannot find any breeders before then.

All the "red" leghorns I've seen are actually just like the RIR with the black tails and a few black wing feathers. Mine were very much like the RIR shade of red. Not super dark like a nice line of quality RIR but closer to a decent hatchery quality RIR.
So darker then say a production red type but probably not that deep dark you're hoping for. They could be a good start to get you there with some selective breeding though.

 

[BGMatt]

Thanks for your reply! Yea, I waited too late for Murray McMurray. I got two straight run—that was all they had left other than a few roosters. Were the Red Leghorns you got a really deep red? I have seen photos of Red Leghorns that are about as dark as a Rhode Island Red. I have had brown Leghorns before, but I am looking for that deep, dark-red color. I am sure I will try next October for Murray McMurray if I cannot find any breeders before then.

So there’s actually two varieties of “red” leghorn in the US. Both are very rare. But they are also different shades of red.

There’s the Red Leghorn, which is a rust colored, lighter red that’s all red.

Then there is the Black Tailed Red Leghorn which is that darker red color and as the name suggests the black tail. It’s the same color pattern as a Rhode Island Red.

As far as finding them. You may want to check with Fred Zillich. He does a lot of the more rare varieties.

 

[Courtney Farms]

Sandhill

 

[nuthatched]

Sandhill

Sandhill has poor quality and poor service.

 

[KF0002]

For future reference to anyone looking for Red Leghorns who may stumble across this post, I also can't recommend McMurray's line of Red Leghorns. Their Red Leghorn chicks lacked the vigor to survive shipping, and died either during shipping or shortly thereafter. Even my replacement chicks from the hatchery perished, while the White Leghorn and Brown Leghorns in the same shipment were extremely robust and did very well. I cannot discredit McMurray's for this, as they have been very good to us over the years and I will continue to use them in the future when I need chicks. Red Leghorns are rare, so the gene pool is small and I'm sure that has contributed to the lack of vigor in the line. With a lot of TLC, I was able to raise the only 2 surviving Red Leghorn chicks, and both ended up being the only rooster chicks I ordered. I found that to be also odd, so the pullet chicks were much weaker and only the cockerel chicks survived. This is one of the Red Leghorn roosters I ended up with. I have him over 2 Brown Leghorn hens and will work on my own line of Red Leghorns that way.