Leggorn chickens: description and characteristics of the breed, varieties, egg production, content

Growing different breeds of chickens, poultry farmers are looking for an option that would be a leader in egg production. Leghorn is a type of chicken that is valued precisely because of this characteristic. During its existence, the breed has managed to gain popularity among professional and amateur poultry farmers.

The history of Leghorn chickens

The birthplace of the breed is Italy. After some time, chickens were brought to America, where they began to cross with other varieties. The desired result was a bird with ideal characteristics. Experts focused on the highest possible percentage of egg production.

As soon as success was achieved, Europe became interested in the breed. Later, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine needed Leghorn. With the arrival of Leghorns in the country in the 20th century, chickens immediately became popular.

Description and characteristics of the breed

You can recognize the Leghorn by appearance, color and demeanor.

Varieties and their appearance

Regardless of color, hens and roosters are characterized by certain body parameters. This is the so-called standard, which corresponds to the variety of chickens. The bird's body is folded harmoniously. Despite their small size, they stand out with their proud posture.

The long neck of medium thickness connects the body to the head of medium size. Earrings are painted in rich red color. In roosters, the leaf-shaped comb stands straight, in hens it hangs to one side. The iris of the orange colored eyes loses its brightness over time.The older the chicken, the paler it is.

Laying hens and roosters have voluminous breasts protruding forward. This gives the bird a stately appearance. There are the most unusual colors of Leggorns. Most often, it is white Leghorns that are bred.

Dwarf

The subspecies is distinguished by its high friendliness towards other birds. They get along with other birds without problems. The egg fertilization rate is 95%, which is much higher than other birds. This phenomenon is due to the activity of adult roosters.

The Pygmy Leghorn is an economical species as it eats little food. They easily pass acclimatization, as they are not afraid of cold snap. Only high quality, nutritious food is suitable for feeding.

White

Leggorn with white color is a universal variety. The survival rate of birds allows them to be kept in regions with a changeable climate. White Leghorns are easy to breed. Requires standard living conditions and familiar bird food.

Brown

The colors of roosters and hens are slightly different. The body of the females is covered with even brown feathers. Closer to the tail, the color darkens a little. Roosters have a tail, breast and abdomen covered with dark feathers with a green tint.

Dalmatians

A variety of Leggorn is also called striped-motley. The black and white coloration makes it look like a Dalmatian, which is why it was decided to name the breed that way. They are relatives of the spotted cross and were bred in 1904.

In those years, speckled chickens were very rare, so they gained popularity at a high speed. Dalmatians run beautifully and have a lot of advantages.

Isabella

Chickens are painted silver or ashy. Feathers with a golden color are noticeable on the back. Isabella is fully considered an ornamental species.

Lavender

The Leghorn variety combines two criteria - incredible color and high productivity. Pink feathers look unusual, and even if the birds are chickens. Quite shy, they react nervously to any extraneous manifestations.

Because of their light weight, they are classified as ornamental birds. For a year, one laying hen brings about 260 eggs. Bred exclusively for eggs.

Character and temperament of birds

Chickens are not aggressive towards other birds. Seemingly calm and yet not stupid. People are not afraid and treat them with trust. During the day, they actively explore the territory, as they do not like to sit still.

Breed productivity

The main advantage of chickens is high egg production, due to which the breed has become widespread. Laying hens are ready to lay eggs at 4 months of age. One bird brings about 230 eggs per year.

The average weight of an egg is 55-60 g. The shell is painted white. When broken, it does not lend itself immediately, as it differs in strength.

How to determine the age of a chicken?

Poultry farmers who do not have much experience in breeding birds are being deceived by sellers. They go to the market to buy young laying hens, and come home with old hens that stop laying eggs at any moment. To avoid such situations, the following rules are followed during the inspection:

Comb color. In adult chickens, due to circulatory disorders, the comb has a pale pink color. If you touch it, you feel a chill. In young birds, it is bright red and warm.
Belly. In young chickens, it is soft. Over the years of keeping old birds, the stomach becomes covered with fat and becomes hard.
Beak color. In older layers, it is pale yellow, while in young hens it is a rich orange hue.

There is a little trick with which you can determine if a laying hen is young. They are given a meal. If the birds quickly run towards him, then they are young and inexperienced. Older hens approach food with apprehension.

How do you tell chickens from roosters?

On the first day the chicks appear, the sex is determined. Females are completely white, gray or black. Whereas young bettas are striped.

Distinguishing a chicken from a rooster in age is quite problematic. It's all about the fluffy tail, which both the laying hen and the rooster have. In this case, pay attention to the comb.

Main pros and cons

Among the advantages of the breed are:

large egg size;
high fertility rate of eggs;
rapid puberty;
economical feed consumption;
friendly and calm nature;
adaptation to climatic conditions.

Disadvantages include:

meat is not eaten;
birds are afraid of noise and bright light;
poor development of maternal instinct;
do not incubate their own eggs.

Meat is not eaten not only because of its taste. The size of the birds makes this impossible.

Specific content of the breed

Like other chickens, Leggorn prefers standard conditions.

Poultry Requirements

The room where the birds live - the chicken coop - should be spacious. If the birds are too crowded, this contributes to the development of diseases. The chicken coop should be warm during the cold season. Birds can't stand drafts.

Perches should be high off the floor so the birds don't feel the cold in winter. It is good if there is at least one window in the house. Laying boxes are installed in a secluded place.

Preparing the area for walking

A walking area is organized near the chicken coop. The allotted area is covered with a fence made of wooden planks or mesh. The height of the fence must be within 1.5 m to prevent the birds from flying over.

The best option is a grassy area so that the Leghorn can get food on its own by pecking greens. Chickens love to dig in the ground, getting bugs, worms and other living creatures. This technique helps reduce feed costs.

Installation of feeders and drinkers

The depth of the food container should be at least 5-10 cm. The length depends on the number of chickens. 10-15 cm are allotted for one bird.

Feeding troughs should be designed so that Leghorns cannot climb inside. This will keep the feed from scattering and protect the grain from excrement. Feeders that are transferred from one place to another have an advantage.

Water containers should be well washed and filled with water. It is important that the drinker does not tip over. The material of the drinkers must be made from safe materials.

Plastic bottles, nipple drinkers, open and vacuum devices are used as water containers. Nipple drinkers are suitable for industrial rearing of chickens. For private households, it is possible to use any of the existing options.

Seasonal molt

The phenomenon is typical for all birds and is accompanied by a break in egg production. Leghorns continue to rush even in winter, but not so actively. In order to restore productivity, poultry farmers stimulate molting.

Shortening daylight hours speeds up the process. Leghorns actively rush for 200-250 days a year.

Choosing livestock

Chickens actively lay eggs in the first year of life. In order to always have eggs on the farm, the birds are changed every year. It is recommended to start new layers after the end of peak egg production of domestic hens.

What to feed the breed

The diet of chicks and adult birds is different. Purchased products are used as feed, as well as those made by oneself.

Chickens

Little hens eat a mixture of boiled eggs, cereals and greens. A new portion is prepared before each feeding. The role of greenery is played by chopped onion, dandelion tops, dill or nettle.

As soon as the chicks have eaten, the food is taken away so that insects do not breed in the box. The chicks also eat mixtures intended for starter feeding. When birds reach 2 weeks of age, whey, root vegetables, fish oil and yeast are added to the diet.

As they grow older, crushed eggshells are added to the diet. Cabbage will be useful, as it is rich in various vitamins. From the birth of chickens and up to 3 weeks of age, the number of feedings per day is 6 times. After that, the number is reduced to 3 times.

When they reach 4 weeks of age, the chicks are transferred to the adult Leghorn diet.

Adult chickens

Legghorns eat little food because of their size. It is important that the food is nutritious and rich in nutrients. Feed should contain everything you need to grow and lay eggs.

Feathers love grain, bone meal, chalk, lime and other food additives. In the morning and in the evening, the bird is given whole grains. At lunch, a mash is made, which is diluted with broth or plain water.

In winter, the mash must be warm. Chickens love corn, barley and wheat. The basis of the mash is bone meal, vegetables, fresh grass and bran.

Calcium is added to the diet of laying hens, which is needed to strengthen the eggshell. Its source is crushed shells from used eggs. Also, chickens can be given shells, previously crushed to the state of small grains.

Breeding and Incubation

Laying hens do not have a maternal instinct, so an incubator is used for breeding. This is a real lifesaver for poultry farmers, because the device solves the problem. The incubation period for Leghorns is 26 to 28 days. The offspring is he althy and strong, and also grows rapidly. During incubation, losses are insignificant - only 8-13%.

Diseases and how to treat

Feathered breed Leggorn is characterized by a disease such as noise hysteria. Birds growing in farms with increased noise are exposed to it. As a rule, they have an industrial direction.

Chickens become aggressive, often flapping their wings and yelling at each other. At the time of the attack, they beat against the walls, injuring themselves and the birds around them. As a result of this, the appearance of the Leggorns deteriorates. They lose their feathers and the laying hens produce few eggs.

To reduce the number of seizures per day, eliminate sources of noise. This is considered the main treatment. In addition, Leggornam creates ideal conditions due to which egg production increases.

Chickens often suffer from parasitic diseases. This happens due to the poor cleanliness of the premises in which they are kept. The bedding should be regularly changed to a new one, and the room itself should be ventilated. If you follow the rules of keeping, there will be no problems with birds.