White Leghorn
Egg layerItalyBeginner friendly
The White Leghorn is the most consequential chicken on the planet: a lean, tireless Italian layer that converts feed into white eggs with almost industrial efficiency. It's busy, noisy, and not much for cuddling, but nothing out-lays it on so little feed.
Eggs per year
260–320
Egg color
White
Egg size
Large
Hen weight
4–5 lbs
Temperament
Active and flighty
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
Virtually every white egg in an American supermarket comes from a Leghorn-derived hen — and yes, Foghorn Leghorn borrowed the name.
White Leghorn egg production
Expect roughly 260–320 white eggs a year from a White Leghorn in her prime — about 5–6 a week, or 22–27 dozen over the course of a year. That puts it among the more prolific backyard layers. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The White Leghorn is generally described as active and flighty. They tend to be active, alert foragers that would rather be busy in the run than sitting in your lap, so give them space and things to do.
Climate & care
The White Leghorn isn't especially cold-hardy, so in cold-winter regions give it a well-insulated, draft-free coop and take extra care to prevent frostbite. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
White Leghornhens rarely go broody, which keeps the eggs coming but means they won't usually raise their own chicks. To hatch, you'll want an incubator — our incubation calculator tracks every step.
Space & feeding
A White Leghorn hen is a medium-sized bird at 4–5 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the White Leghorn right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You keep chickens in a hot climate
Think twice if…
- You face long, hard winters
- You want a lap chicken that loves being handled
White Leghorn FAQ
- How many eggs do White Leghorn chickens lay?
- A healthy White Leghorn hen lays about 260–320 white eggs a year — roughly 5–6 a week, or 22–27 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do White Leghorns lay?
- White Leghorns lay white eggs, large in size.
- How big do White Leghorn chickens get?
- A White Leghorn hen weighs roughly 4–5 lbs — a medium-sized bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are White Leghorns cold-hardy?
- Not especially. The White Leghorn does best in mild or warm climates; in cold-winter regions it needs an insulated, draft-free coop and extra care against frostbite.
- Are White Leghorns good for beginners?
- Yes. The White Leghorn is a forgiving, active and flighty breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do White Leghorn hens go broody?
- Rarely. White Leghorn hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
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