BREED GUIDE
Leghorn chicken: feed cost and care guide
What a Leghorn actually costs to feed, how many eggs to expect, and whether it fits your flock.
The Leghorn is a standard breed known for being the breed behind most commercial white eggs, bred hard for egg output over friendliness. It's active, flighty, and not particularly interested in being handled.
Its oversized single comb looks striking but needs frostbite protection in cold climates; it does much better in warm-to-moderate weather. As a standard-size bird, expect daily feed intake around 0.25 lb per bird before waste, free-ranging, or seasonal adjustments, noticeably in line with most standard laying breeds.
Leghorn quick facts
| Size class | Standard |
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| Egg color | White |
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| Eggs per week | 5-6 |
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| Est. monthly feed cost (flock of 6) | $21.19 |
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| Cold hardy | No (large comb prone to frostbite) |
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| Foraging ability | Excellent |
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| Typical purpose | Egg production |
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Feed cost for a Leghorn flock
At $22 for a 50 lb bag of feed, a flock of six Leghorn birds runs about $21.19 a month before any free-ranging or seasonal adjustment, based on its standard size class. Free-ranging typically cuts that by around 15%, and winter months typically add about 10%. Use the feed cost calculator to plug in your exact flock size and feed price and see the real number, including how many bags you'll need and how long each one lasts.
Egg production
A healthy Leghorn lays roughly 5-6 white eggs a week under good conditions, with output dropping during molt and the shortest days of winter. Over a full year that works out to a meaningful number of eggs per bird, worth weighing against its feed cost when deciding if this breed fits your goals. Curious about the dollar value of that output? The egg production calculator turns your flock's laying rate into a monthly total and a rough dollar value at your local egg price.
Care tip specific to this breed
Because its comb is large and upright, frostbite protection (a well-ventilated but draft-free coop, petroleum jelly on the comb in freezing weather) matters more here than with most breeds.
Is the Leghorn right for your flock?
The Leghorn fits best where egg production is the goal. As a excellent-rated forager, it makes real use of free-range space if you can offer it, which also trims its feed cost. On climate, it isn't especially cold hardy, so plan on extra winter protection if you're in a cold climate.
Frequently asked questions
How many eggs does a Leghorn lay per week?
A Leghorn typically lays about 5-6 white eggs a week under normal conditions, fewer during molting or the shortest winter days.
Is the Leghorn a good breed for beginners?
Its temperament is active, flighty, and not particularly interested in being handled, which makes it a solid choice for a first flock.
Is the Leghorn cold hardy?
No (large comb prone to frostbite). Extra winter protection is worth planning for in a cold climate.
How much does it cost to feed a Leghorn?
As a standard-size bird, a Leghorn eats about 0.25 lb of feed a day before adjustments. A flock of six costs roughly $21.19 a month at $22 per 50 lb bag; use our feed cost calculator to adjust for your own flock size, feed price, free-ranging, and season.