White Leghorn at a glance
| Egg production | 280–320 eggs/year |
|---|---|
| Egg color | white |
| Size | light; hen weight 4.5–5.5 lb |
| Temperament summary | Active, flighty |
| Housing class | laying hen |
Strongest documented traits
Egg production
Exceptional egg production
280-320 eggs/year
Source confidence: High
Heat tolerance
Excellent heat tolerance
USU hot-weather recommendation
Source confidence: High
Feed efficiency
Excellent feed efficiency
high feed-to-egg ratio
Source confidence: High
Foraging
Good forager
Source confidence: High
Things to consider
These are traits that may be a drawback depending on what you want from your flock. Individual birds can vary.
Flightiness
Very flighty
very flighty
Source confidence: High
Broodiness
Rarely broody
Source confidence: High
Temperament
More reserved or active
active/flighty
Source confidence: High
Cold tolerance
Limited cold tolerance
Mediterranean/light-bodied breed with large-comb frostbite concerns in cold regions; Extension sources favor heavier/smaller-combed birds for winter hardiness
Source confidence: High
How the planner uses this breed
The flock planner does not rank White Leghorn from a single overall score stored in the database. Instead, it weights individual traits differently for each household. Cold hardiness matters more in harsh winters; heat tolerance matters more in hot climates; docility receives additional weight when children will handle the birds; and housing size can prevent a breed mix from being recommended even when its preference score is strong.
Sources used for this record
- Utah State University Extension: Managing Chickens From Chicks to Peak Egg Production
- Mississippi State University Extension: Choosing the Right Breed for Your Backyard Flock
- Mississippi State University Extension: Poultry Beginnings: Raise Your Own Backyard Chickens
Last database review: 2026-10-03. Trait values are normalized to a 1–5 planning scale; see the methodology for how uncertainty is handled.