white or brown leghorns - advise please!

[chickengr]

hi,

I've decided to get some more birds for eggs. as I am a new chicken keeper I know almost nothing about chicken. so, I need an advise: should I get white or brown leghorns? I don't sell eggs and my chicken are free ranging in a small backyard.

thank you in advance.

 

[Michael OShay]

White Leghorns will generally outlay Brown Leghorns, however since you are going to free range, I would suggest going with Brown Leghorns as the white feathers of the WLs are quick to catch the eyes of predators. Even in a city backyard, there are always potential predators, and Brown Leghorns blend in much better with the terrain. Whichever you end up getting, good luck with your flock.

 

[chickengr]

White Leghorns will generally outlay Brown Leghorns, however since you are going to free range, I would suggest going with Brown Leghorns as the white feathers of the WLs are quick to catch the eyes of predators. Even in a city backyard, there are always potential predators, and Brown Leghorns blend in much better with the terrain. Whichever you end up getting, good luck with your flock.

thank you.
I live on an island in greece, near athens, and thank god no predators in my area. there are some foxes but a few miles away. I prefer non white chicken because my crazy cockerel make them dirty in a few sec. also dust baths. do you know how many eggs per week do brown leghorns lay and how many WL? I am more concerned about that. tried to find in internet but there are so many different answers.

 

[Michael OShay]

thank you.
I live on an island in greece, near athens, and thank god no predators in my area. there are some foxes but a few miles away. I prefer non white chicken because my crazy cockerel make them dirty in a few sec. also dust baths. do you know how many eggs per week do brown leghorns lay and how many WL? I am more concerned about that. tried to find in internet but there are so many different answers.

You're welcome. As far as predators go, do you have cats and dogs on the island? They often kill more chickens than wild predators do. I've had both White and Brown Leghorns over the years. White Leghorns are egg laying machines. The best strains will lay 6 (sometimes 7) eggs per hen per week. Brown Leghorns typically lay 3-4 (sometimes 5) eggs per hen per week.

 

[chickengr]

You're welcome. As far as predators go, do you have cats and dogs on the island? They often kill more chickens than wild predators do. I've had both White and Brown Leghorns over the years. White Leghorns are egg laying machines. The best strains will lay 6 (sometimes 7) eggs per hen per week. Brown Leghorns typically lay 3-4 (sometimes 5) eggs per hen per week.

my chicken backyard is fenced. I have got 3 dogs who watch the rest of my property which is small and fenced.

thank you for the information. I think I will get some white and at least one brown to give pleasure to my eyes!

 

[cute bantams]

I have experience with both there are two different colors of brown leghorns light and dark . Dark brown are rare and have a beautiful mahogany brown color but light Browns have a couple of different colors on them especially the cockerels I have had Browns outlay good strains of white leghorn

 

[donrae]

My hatchery brown Leghorn hens laid average of 6 eggs per week. When I crossed the roosters to Easter egger hens, the offspring also laid about 6 eggs a week the first year.

Personally, I like the brown birds better, just for the color. I don't care for white birds but that's just personal preference. I didn't want the dominant white in my breeding stock cause I like visual variety and wanted different colored offspring.