The Leghorn breed is classified as a softfeather variety, a light breed of fowl, a white egg layer and a non-broody.
The breed takes its name from the Mediterranean port of Leghorn in Northern Italy. It has been the breed of ages and has been the most popular breed in Italy.
They were imported into America and developed as superior egg layer for the American white egg production. Records dating as far back as 1845 show that Mr. Ward of New York received from Italy some Brown Leghorn fowls.
The white Leghorn variety was imported from America and arrived in England around 1870, followed by the Brown Leghorn into England about 1872.
A white Leghorn bantam hen
In Australia, around the 1900`s white Leghorns won many of the egg-laying competitions and went on to became the most common pure breed of fowl around of that time. When poultry farmers crossed them with Australorp females this cross became the most popular commercial egg layers of past times.
The Leghorn Club of Australia was established in 1947 and was originally known as the Black Leghorn Club.
The recognised colour varieties in Australia include: White, Black, Brown, Blue, Buff, Silver and Gold Duckwing, Pile, Cuckoo, Blue/Red, Exchequer, Mottled and Partridge.
On the colour of the Brown Leghorns, which is something that leads to a lot of confusion; the exhibition female is referred to as the “Pullet-Breeder” variety. Personally I would like to refer to them as the “Light- Brown” variety. The exhibition Brown Leghorn male is referred to as the “Cockerel-Breeder” Brown variety. I would like to refer to them as the “Dark-Brown” variety.
A brown Leghorn hen
People get very confused about the two colours even though they are both Brown Leghorns they are split into Dark and Light Brown and should never be crossed together. I hope that this may help anyone that is not sure of the colours.
The single comb in Leghorns is the most popular but they do come in rose comb, of which I have not seen many in Tasmania.
All the large Leghorn colour varieties are now also bred in the bantam size and weight standards.
All of the Leghorns that I have had in the past have been excellent egg layers and especially my bantam Leghorns, who lay a good size of egg for the size of the female.
Being an active fowl the breed can be a bit flighty but with good care and handling, socialisation with kids, pets and visitors, they are fine.
Judge Bob Folwer handling a brown Leghorn cockerel
Breed profile 'Leghorns' kindly written by Jerrod Oliver.