When asked to think of a chicken, a lot of people automatically think of Red Leghorn chicken. They are a farm standard because of their downy white or deep mahogany feathers and big red combs that make them stand out. Even though they are shy, Leghorns are good at laying eggs and grazing and are an excellent addition to any farmyard, from small projects like raising chickens for fun to bigger farms.
History of Red Leghorn Chicken
The chickens were brought in from Livorno, Italy, in the hills of Tuscany. They are thought to be a mix of different landrace chicken lines, but the types are still being determined.
Landrace types of chickens are ones that grew up in the wild, not because someone carefully bred them. In the 1820s, they were brought from central Italy to the United States. In the 1870s, they were brought to England.
The English crossed Leghorns with Minorca’s to make them bigger and better able to do more than one thing. Then, in 1910, they sent this new, bigger Leghorn back to the United States.
At first, they were called “Italian” chickens. The name Leghorn came from the name “Livorno” and was given to them later. Some people liked the smaller, original Leghorn better because it looked more like the wild type.
Some people liked the newer, bigger Leghorn because it could lay market eggs. In 1874, the American Poultry Association gave Leghorn chickens their first official name.
These days, battery hens are made from the Leghorn chicken breed. They are well-known because of the Looney Tunes character Foghorn Leghorn.
Appearance
The Red leghorn chicken has a long, narrow body that makes it look beautiful. The inside of their ears are white, which is typical for birds that lay giant white eggs. Their skin is red, white, black, and brown. Each foot has four bright yellow toes. Their eyes are orange-red.
Single or Rose Comb
Leghorns can have a single comb or a rose comb. Most Leghorns have a single comb, which is a big, wide comb.
People in the US like rose combs more because they are smaller and less likely to get cold in the snow. The comb and wattles on them are red.
Breed Size
Red Leghorns are a small breed of bird that will grow up quickly and be full-sized in just a few months. There are both normal and bantam types.
Leghorn hens weigh about 2.5 kg, and roosters weigh about 3.5 kg. As big as a bantam hen, the Leghorn weighs about 850g. One kilogram is the weight of the rooster.
Eggs of Red Leghorn Chicken
Red Leghorn chickens lay many eggs. They are prized because they lay eggs very cheaply. They need a lot of food to lay eggs, so they will do it for little money.
Since they are small and eat a lot of raw food, it costs little to feed them. Farmers who sell eggs and people who keep chickens in their yards and want to sell their eggs both like this breed because it lays so many eggs.
Laying Age
They usually start laying eggs when they are about four months old, which is earlier than some other chickens. They will continue to lay many eggs for about four years. Once this happens, they will slowly stop laying eggs until they reach their “retirement” years and stop.
Red Leghorn Chicken as Pets
People can keep red leghorns as pets in their yards, but they aren’t the most family-friendly breed. There will be differences between Leghorns, and each one will have its personality. But they do have some things in common.
Seeing what the parents of a Leghorn were like is the best way to guess what the dog will be like. Ask your owner if you didn’t raise the parents yourself.
Temperament
Red Leghorns are great for people who want to raise a steady source of eggs. They lay about 280 large white eggs a year on average, but some very active hens can lay up to 320. They also eat less food than many other breeds. Hens are also very rarely broody, which means they will lay eggs and look for food more often than they will try to sit and hatch their eggs.
In spite of that, there are some things you should think about before picking this breed. Leghorn chickens are shy and don’t always do well with being around people. People with small children or people who want to raise their chickens as pets as well as workers, should not get these. White Leghorns may also be more likely to be attacked by predators because of how striking their color is. Leghorn chickens are extraordinary at laying eggs, but because they are small, they could be better at producing meat. However, red Leghorn chickens tend to get bigger than their lighter-colored peers while still laying a lot of eggs.
Coop of Red Leghorn Chicken
All types of Leghorns like to roost four to eight feet above the ground. They are also very good at grazing. This group usually does best in coops that let them go outside a lot and have lots of places to roost and nest. Besides that, these birds are brilliant and will use any way to get away. You should think about this and make sure that your coop can be appropriately locked up when needed.
Having chickens on a ranch or farm can be a great way to save money and get things done. Your rough group of Leghorn chickens will lay a lot of giant, white eggs and live a long, healthy life if you take good care of them.
Health of Red Leghorn Chicken
The Red Leghorn type of chicken grows up quickly and only lives for a short time. They usually live until they are about 6 years old.
A lot of kinds of chicken that lay a lot of eggs do this. The Leghorn chicken can get lice and bugs like any other pet bird.
You will need to keep an eye on them between their feathers. Talk to a vet in your area about how to keep lice and mites away from your birds.