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Hybrid Leghorn

Leghorn Hybrid Chickens For Sale

Introduction to Hybrid Leghorn Chickens

The Leghorn is a very old pure breed chicken and the Hybrid version is just as lovely. They are prolific laying hens and can lay 300+ large white eggs a year. They are smaller than the usual Hybrid hen and although a little flighty are full of character and very friendly. They are sturdy, hardy and make lovely garden hens, happy free roaming or in a smaller set up they are ideal for first-time keepers or in a mixed breed flock. They have large combs which flop over to one side over time, which is endearing and quite comical.

*Please note, hybrid hens are cross bred and as such about 10% may not lay the specified coloured egg, if you want a guaranteed egg colour then opt for a pure breed chicken*

Caution

This indicates that this breed is not aggressive per-se, but not really suited to mix with smaller delicate bantams or to outnumber other breeds, they are better with their own kind or breeds of a similar size and nature.

Aloof But Friendly

This breed will be very inquisitive and friendly; however, they can seem a little aloof as they do not like being handled too much and will be self-sufficient, they prefer to chicken about doing their own thing.

250-300 Medium/Large Light Brown PA

This breed can lay over 300 large white coloured eggs per year, they are not known for being broody.

More About Leghorn Hybrids

Character
Suitability
History

Character

The Leghorn chicken is perhaps the best laying hen available, they are known for laying over 300 eggs a year. They are a very sweet bird, a little flighty but incredibly inquisitive, because they are a little flighty they will need a calm and patient hand. Leghorns are confident, sturdy, disease resistant chickens and are suited in mixed breed flocks as they are gentle in nature and not known to bully or be aggressive. They are not the cuddliest of breeds, but with time can become tame and will take food from your hand. The perfect bird to add to a bantam flock for lots of lovely fresh eggs.

Suitability

Hybrid Leghorn hens are great all-round birds, they love to forage and free range but are equally as happy in a smaller garden set up, however, they would need enrichments and lots of grass time. Nutrition is important for hybrid chickens, they need a good layers’ pellet and extra treats with calcium, vitamin D and B12 to enable them to produce lots of lovely fresh eggs. You will need to ensure your area has feed and water available at all times. Leghorns make lovely garden chickens, they can be flighty so you may need to clip their wings or have them in an enclosed run, they are not known for being aggressive and can be mixed with most other breeds. They love to forage so the perfect setting would be a large walk-in run for when you’re not around with lots of space to forage outdoors safely. You can use electric fencing to create safe areas for foraging if you have a big space. Hybrids can fly and would like a roosting bar for sleeping at night, they can also manage a house with a ladder or a ramp.

History

Hybrid Chickens come in many varieties and are usually cross-bred from different pure breeds such as the Light Sussex, Rhode Island Red and Legbar. Hybrid Leghorns are derived from their pure breed counterpart the Leghorn, known for being a good pure breed layer the hybrid Leghorn is a prolific layer! Hybrid chicken development is quite new and only started in the 1950’s, before the hybrid chicken was created most farmers and poultry keepers kept pure breeds. Hybrids have been created to lay large numbers of eggs, but their egg production is short lived and they tend to slow down after about 3 years of laying, they can lay over 300 large white eggs a year and are not known for being broody.