whats the best layers
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dinosaw
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Leghorn bantam, lays white eggs and in full size it's Bovans Brown or ISA Brown which lay brown eggs, though not a huge difference between any of the brown laying hybrids in egg numbers, they all lay around the 320-350 mark in the first year. White full size birds (though they are still small) it's White Star, which is a White Leghorn bred for productivity.
valeriebutterley
New member
I often wonder why they bother with the white star. My utility Leghorns, now getting on a bit are still laying well. I also like the general longevity of purebreds and their looks, and they seem to have better health than hybrids . I am very pleased with my Rhode Island Reds, beautiful mahogany chicks and laying well already.
Leghorns are very pretty, with large floppy combs like a film star's hair, over one eye. They're originally a Mediterranean breed, and the large comb is there to help them remain cool in hot conditions. In areas where the temperature goes well below freezing in winter, this may cause problems as the combs can get frostbitten - in a hard winter in N.Yorkshire you might need to treat them with Vaseline to help prevent this. They're very active and flighty, hard to catch and easily spooked. Mine like to have a high perch to fly up on, way above where the others hang out together during the day. Mine are both Leghorn hybrids, one is a White Star and Dinosaw recently said that White Stars are actually purebred leghorns under another name, quite small birds but they lay good-sized eggs. The other one is a much larger brown Leghorn hybrid, with the Leghorn appearance and temperament but with beautiful brown and gold feathers. The White Star lays bright white eggs and the brown one lays white eggs that don't look quite so white against the eggs from the White Star, sort of like a Persil advert! There are also Exchequer Leghorns, also known as Harlequin Leghorns, which have white and black patterning. This place in Nantwich has some Harlequins and also sells eggs. http://harlequinfarm.webs.com Nice pics on their Photo Gallery.
Some more pics here, but this place is in Devon and sells POL pullets. http://thepurebreedpoultry.co.uk/index.php?id_product=24&controller=product
Some more pics here, but this place is in Devon and sells POL pullets. http://thepurebreedpoultry.co.uk/index.php?id_product=24&controller=product
And if hatching your own, you'll need to set them up and keep them in separate accommodation from the rest of the flock for the first 6 months or so, until they're point of lay. They need growers pellets until they're pol, not layers, and will be bullied by the adults if you try to introduce them before they're nearly adult. Needs careful planning - the easier route is to get some point of lay pullets in the Spring, then you won't have to deal with the 50%+ cockerels that you'll otherwise be hatching.
chrismahon
Well-known member
We got our Brown Leghorn bantams via the Leghorn Breeders Club. They lay very well for the first two years and are quite pretty. The cockerels are obvious from about two weeks because English bred Leghorn cocks have massive combs- the breed standard. It's an odd breed standard in that cocks must have an upright comb but hens it must flop over without obscuring vision. This requires two breeding sets and results in cockerels from one set and pullets from the other being discarded. so if you get pullets from a cock breeder they will have upright combs and a cock from a pullet breeder will have a flopped-over comb. You will find non-standard pullets at auctions, but they will be cheap and lay just as well.
In Winter they need to be kept warm, so a good draught-free coop in a wind sheltered area. The hens combs shrink alarmingly in Winter and go very pale. Vaseline is essential on them to stop cooling by water evaporation -chicken's skin is different to ours so they don't sweat. Apply it every week. Eggs are pretty big for a bantam which is ¼ the size of the Large Fowl counterpart- expect 36-48 grammes.
In Winter they need to be kept warm, so a good draught-free coop in a wind sheltered area. The hens combs shrink alarmingly in Winter and go very pale. Vaseline is essential on them to stop cooling by water evaporation -chicken's skin is different to ours so they don't sweat. Apply it every week. Eggs are pretty big for a bantam which is ¼ the size of the Large Fowl counterpart- expect 36-48 grammes.
valeriebutterley
New member
Hello Dye,
I love Leghorns, speedy, dainty pretty and friendly - if you can catch them. I have two white ones.
Type in "Garden allotment org" and you come up with egg suppliers from all over the country, county by county. Mostly back garden keepers, who sell hatching eggs, chicks and growers, probably adults as well.
A useful supplier of names of local producers.
Best of luck.
I love Leghorns, speedy, dainty pretty and friendly - if you can catch them. I have two white ones.
Type in "Garden allotment org" and you come up with egg suppliers from all over the country, county by county. Mostly back garden keepers, who sell hatching eggs, chicks and growers, probably adults as well.
A useful supplier of names of local producers.
Best of luck.
