White Leghorns: are they really that mean?

[switters]

Well, we plan to handle them a lot since we have a small flock. Maybe we'll even give the WL a bit of extra TLC to make sure she's used to human contact!

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Switters, I just wanted to say that it's super-nice to see you here! You've been a member since 2008...we've gotta get your post count up!

 

[Clay In Iowa]

My mothers family kept 3,000 leghorn laying hens around with a few cocks thrown in. They collected eggs by hand every day.

I asked her the same question when I thought about getting chickens. Referring to my two boys she said " don't you dare keep those @#*^ nasty birds around my babies" ... Then she showed the the scars on her legs from the cocks and told me how the hens were "mean as the dickens" . They had to wear 2 pair or pants and heavy jackets to collect eggs, even in the heat of summer.

Could just be an artifact of keeping so many birds in one large pole barn (no cages) and having little contact with humans. But Mom is by no means a fan of the Leghorn.

 

[TXmom]

I love my Leghorns!!!

I have 2 White Leghorns (Ideal 236 variety) and 2 Danish Brown Leghorns. My whites are extremely friendly. When they were chicks, they always flew out of the coop, right into our laps or on our arms. Now that they're outside, they are still friendly, but not all over us like they used to be. I can still pick them up. My Danish browns are a little less social. Not mean at all, just walk away when I try to pick them up. I also get a jumbo double-yolker white egg about every other day!

And they're only 25 weeks old!

 

[rmchicks]

I agree with city clucks. i have three pearl white leghorns. very flighty but not mean at all. dont know bout egg production, still waiting, they r 19 weeks.

 

[chickenbottom]

my white leghorns are the sweetest things they jump up to me on my shoulder they crowd around me for treats i love them and there floppy combs lol maybe they were so sweet cause i raised em from 3 days old they lay nice big beautiful white eggs i have no problem with them what so ever and i would reccommend them to anyone just not as first time birds they get spooked very easily and like it was said are very flighty

 

[CheepSunglasses]

They ARE great layers. We have three- two whites and a brown and they are the most consistent layers in our flock, along with the Lakenvelder. I can vouch for the comment about the roosters, though. The only ones I've ever been in contact with seem to be a little extra testosterony. They can be really aggressive, but then again, all breeds can do that.

 

[Rootball]

I heard about a flock of white leghorns in Idaho last year that shot a man just to watch him die. Then they picked his carcass clean and left town never to be heard from again. They left a "Jumbo Grade A" next to his dessicated skeleton like some kind of a demented calling card.

If that aint mean, then I dont know what is.

 

[chickenbottom]

lol thats funny chickens with guns next we will hear about them opening doors

 

[CheepSunglasses]

Rootball: That is hysterical