Pros and Cons of Leghorn Chickens for Backyard Flocks: My Honest Experience

Leghorns, while one of the best feed-efficient layers, can be an absolute headache to manage. These aren't the best chickens for beginners for many reasons. However, they are one of the best birds for coops where finances and production are paramount. 

    When most people picture a commercial egg farm, they imagine the classic White Leghorn chicken. And honestly, there’s a good reason for that: they’re the gold standard when it comes to egg production. But for small flocks and homesteads, they’re not always the best fit.

    I’ve owned Leghorn chickens for years, and today I want to share both the cons and the pros of this breed. If you’re researching Leghorns and thinking about adding them to your flock, I hope this gives you a clear picture of what you're in for before making the big decision.

Why Leghorns Might Not Be the Right Choice

    Earlier this year, I actually uploaded a video about leghorns and why they aren't a good choice for beginners. I decided to add that information here on the blog today, as the blog is relatively new. I will link that YouTube video below, then I'll dive right in! 

1. They’re flighty. These chickens aren't known for being docile pets. Most Leghorns are quick to bolt, and while I do have one that’s as cool as a cucumber at times, that’s the exception, not the rule. They'll come right up to your for food, but they're very anxious and fearful when handled in the standard backyard flock. If handled every day like a pet, you may have a very different outcome (but not always.)

2. They escape everything. Even with clipped wings, mine scaled 7–8 ft fences until I finally netted the top of their run. They're very good with a "Spiderman" maneuver, running up the fence while flapping their wings- even when clipped. They're incredibly lightweight birds, so this makes it more difficult to contain them. If you try to free-range leghorns, then confine them, you are absolutely not going to have a good time trying to keep them contained unless they're fully enclosed. 

   

   White Leghorn Chickens can be difficult to keep behind a fence, especially if they know where a good compost pile to scratch around in is! They are very smart and have the agility to make their little escape plans a reality. Don't be surprised if you need to completely enclose the top or maintain a 6-8' tall fence for these master escape artists.

   
   

3. They’re too smart. Smart chickens sound great… until you need to catch one. Trimming, medicating, or inspecting them becomes a real challenge. This also applies to reason #2- they're really good at figuring out how to evade containment. I watched one of my hens figure out how to get between the 8' fencing and the overhead netting, successfully. I would not have believed that if I had not witnessed it!

4. Roosters are aggressive. My Leghorn rooster is the meanest bird in the barnyard, and those big spurs make him a real force to be reckoned with. He's quick, he's angry, and he can get some air with that small frame he has. This is definitely not the ideal rooster breed to keep around young children. On the rare occasion that this guy has gotten out, my children knew they weren't allowed out until I had him placed back in his run- and they are never allowed into the leghorn pen under any circumstances. 

   

   White Leghorn roosters are incredibly aggressive. So far, leghorn roosters have been the meanest roosters I've come across; I've yet to meet a docile one! I don't recommend them to families with young children, especially if the rooster is not safely contained, due to safety concerns. There are more docile chicken breeds out there. 

   
   

5. They generally don’t go broody. If you’re hoping for hens that hatch chicks, you won’t find that in leghorns. You would need to choose another breed for this purpose. I did have one of my leghorns go broody for about two weeks once, but that was an odd fluke and quite rare. This breed is one of the most unlikely to go broody among the many different breeds out there.

    From a homesteader's standpoint, they aren’t dual-purpose, either. (This doesn't make it into my list as I wasn't targeting the homesteading crowd, specifically.) The hens are lightweight with little meat, and while they lay a ton of eggs, you likely won’t be butchering them for the stew pot.

White Leghorn chick that just hatched! This bird was from one of our last hatches, where we replenished our leghorn flock ahead of the 2025-2026 laying season. 

Reasons I Still Keep Leghorns Anyway (What I LOVE About Leghorns!)

    Now that I’ve said all that, here’s why I’ll always keep White Leghorns in my flock:

• Reliable layers. They are the most consistent egg producers I own, laying large white eggs even in the winter after their molt. Even though older hens have a reputation for slowing down with their laying much quicker, second- and third-year leghorns still are very productive, especially when compared with breeds that lay fewer annually. The same could be said about my production hens, as well. To further add to this, the eggs are the largest among the hens I own, meaning two leghorn eggs may be the equivalent of 3 of my Marans hens' eggs. 

Leghorns lay white, brilliant eggs. While I'm all for the backyard, farm-fresh eggs, I absolutely don't believe in the myth that brown eggs taste better. Farm fresh eggs may taste better, but it has nothing to do with the color of the shell. Well, aside from the fact that most family farms raise dual-purpose birds for meat and eggs, and dual-purpose birds usually lay eggs in shades of tan, brown, and cream. 

• Feed efficiency. Small bodies mean they eat less; but they still deliver an incredible number of eggs. There's a reason these birds are the preferred choice for commercial egg farms. Not only do they have one of the highest laying rates per year with some of the largest eggs, but they also provide some of the best feed efficiency ratios in the industry. What this means is that, for the amount of feed that the hen requires, you're getting the most value in return (frequent laying of large eggs, while eating less than many other breeds.) This is similar to the feed conversion efficiency of Cornish Cross when it comes to meat production.

White leghorns are some of the most feed efficient laying hens that you can own. Their smaller frames mean they eat less, but don't let that fool you- these birds will have you swimming in eggs. They're the most budget friendly, cost-effective laying hens you can purchase. 

• Adorable floppy combs. My favorite trait. Those floppy red combs are just too cute. Does it provide any financial gain, more eggs? No. However, any farm animal with adorable traits means they get bonus points here. (They may actually be a con since they're so prone to frostbite during the winter; important note for you folks that see temperatures of -5*F or colder frequently.)

• Survivors by nature.  Their flightiness makes them very predator-savvy. I’ve never lost a Leghorn to a predator, and I think they’d be among the last to be caught if I free-ranged. However, I don't free-range. I've had my share of encounters with a fox, a coyote, and unleashed dogs, so you won't see me free ranging my egg-laying flock (even though it's been years since we've had any attacks.)

• Winter egg production.  Winter egg production is a huge benefit in my opinion- few birds will lay during the winter months, and egg prices have surged the last few years when our flock has slowed on laying. When a dozen eggs surged to $7 here, I was grateful for the few leghorn eggs we were getting. Unfortunately they do slow down in winter with age, but the younger pullets will lay through winter as if it's spring. I do see a noticeable dip during ice storms and record lows, but that's absolutely understandable and I do not hold it against them! 

I love having so many different colors in my nesting boxes; speckled browns, creams, pinks, tans, and blues. However, there's none of those to be found during the winter months. Instead, all I find are leghorn eggs: the best bird for winter egg production, in my opinion!

 Are Leghorns Right for Your Flock?

    In my opinion, leghorns are best for experienced chicken keepers who prioritize egg production, efficiency, and resilience. They’re not ideal for beginners or families looking for calm, docile chickens, and the roosters aren't a good match for children. They're also a terrible option if you're looking for a self-sustaining flock. If you're looking for an easy keeper that will provide you with colored eggs while being docile and relatively easy to handle, skip on the white leghorns.

Leghorns are one of my favorite breeds for many reasons; but they make terrible pets. If you're looking for feed efficiency, frequent laying, large eggs, protective roosters, and flightiness, they're the perfect birds.

    For me, Leghorns aren’t my “main flock,” but I’ll always keep a group of them alongside my other breeds. They balance out the hens who lay poorly, and I can rely on them for steady egg production all year long. If you've got similar goals for your flock, you might consider adding 1-2 leghorn pullets to your flock, skipping the rooster, and adding pullets from calmer breeds, like Barred Rocks or Cochins. Having a rooster from a dual-purpose breed could provide you with a nice leghorn hybrid, if you're looking for sustainability. The leghorn genetics would provide you with chicks that lay very well, and a dual-purpose breed would add some weight to the hybrids, giving you roosters for your freezer and hens for your coop.  In addition, the hybrid pullets may decide to become broody, allowing you to grow your flock without investing in an incubator or brooder.

    If you want dependable eggs, feed efficiency, and hardy birds, the Leghorn chicken is worth considering, absolutely! If you're new to chickens, just know that you're likely signing up for a challenge, and that other breeds would likely be much easier to manage and care for. Even though they can be quite the challenge, this breed is incredibly rewarding to own; especially if you're looking to maximize the value of your flock and its production. 

Floppy combs are one of my favorite traits when it comes to the leghorns. These hens have some huge combs on them, commonly flopping over and reaching below their beaks. Unfortunately, they are prone to frostbite, especially the roosters.

Are White Leghorns the right chickens for your coop? This post shares the truth about their temperament, egg-laying, and why they’re not always ideal for beginners.

Leghorn chickens are famous for their egg production, but they’re not the easiest breed to keep in a backyard flock. Discover the real-life pros and cons of raising White Leghorns and see if they’re the right breed for your backyard flock.