How Big Do Leghorn Chickens Get? [Average Size Guide]

Chickens grow to different sizes. It depends mostly on the breed. Some breeds are actually quite small, whereas others are a lot more formidable than you would expect for this bird! But what about Leghorns? What kind of size do they typically reach and by when? Looking at the data, here is what the trends suggest.

So, how big do Leghorn chickens get? Leghorn chickens typically reach 16″ in height, and weigh between 5-8 lbs when fully grown. There is some variance between the males (roosters) and females (hens), with the males weighing slightly more, on average. Either way, this is considered a medium-sized breed.

As adults, Leghorns are actually quite compact, not carrying much excess weight when fed correctly.

This is a breed of chicken that can actually come in a variety of different colors; although they are most popular and commonly found in white.

Regardless of color, this bird is known for having large wattles, piercing orange eyes and yellow legs.

And then there are the combs; which tend to flop over on one side in an amusing way.

No wonder why this breed was the inspiration behind the cartoon character, Foghorn Leghorn!

I digress.

Let us now take a closer look at the average size of this breed, before looking at their typical growth patterns.

Lastly, we will be looking at the size of the eggs!

So, if you are interested in adding some Leghorns to your flock; be sure to keep on reading to know exactly what to expect!

Average Size Of A Leghorn Chicken

The average size of a Leghorn chicken will primarily depend on their age and their sex, with males being somewhat larger than the females.

Of course, a chick has to develop into an adult chicken, and there are many factors that contribute to healthy growth.

Assuming Leghorns are fed a healthy diet (suitable for their age), have sufficient access to light, heating and are generally taken cared of, here are what you can expect their final size to be:

Age and Sex	Average Weight (Pounds and KG)
Fully Grown Leghorn Roosters (Males, 6 Months and Older)	7.5 lbs (3.4 kg)
Fully Grown Leghorn Hens (Females, 6 Months and Older)	5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Growing Cockerels (Males Less Than 6 Months Old)	6.5 lbs (2.95 kg)
Growing Pullets (Females Less Than 6 Months Old)	5 lbs (2.25 kg)
Bantham Leghorn Roosters	2.25 lbs (1.02 kg)
Bantham Leghorn Hens	1.9 lbs (0.9 kg)

Of course, these are just averages and there will be some variance in-between birds.

If you are unfamiliar with any of the terms, here is a quick reminder:

Rooster – Males, 6 Months and Older.
Hen – Females, 6 Months and Older
Cockerel – Males Less Than 6 Months Old
Pullet – Females Less Than 6 Months Old
Bantam; this is generally considered to be a ‘small version’ of a specific breed. So, you can actually get different sized bantams, across different breeds of chickens.

If you want a full definition of the terms, you can find them in this article here.

At What Age Is A Leghorn Fully Grown?

A leghorn chicken should be fully grown by the age of 6 months. This is true for both males and females.

They are actually considered to be a relatively fast-growing chicken, as most other breeds tend to reach their full adult size around the age of 1-year-old.

Let us now take a closer look at the growth and key milestones of this particular breed:

Leghorn Growth and Key Milestones

Age	Height (Inches)	Notes
Day 1	3″
Week 1	4″	After day 3, a Leghorn chick will begin growing its primary feathers on its wings.
Week 2	5″	Primary feathers will now start to grow on the rest of their body and tail.
Week 3	6″	By week 3, the full body will be covered in feathers.
Week 4 (1 Month)	8″	The combs (on the top of the head) and the wattles (under the beak) will grow longer on cockerels.
Week 8 (2 Months)	14″	Cockerels will start learning to crow.
Week 9	14″	Secondary feathers will begin replacing the primary feathers for both cockerels, and hens.
Month 5	16″	The combs will get larger, turn red and begin to flop over on the pullets.
Month 6	16″	Leghorn should reach full and final size. Hens will begin to lay eggs..

What Size Eggs Do Leghorns Lay?

Leghorn chickens typically lay medium to large eggs, that are around 55-60 grams on average in weight.

Although, it has been known for Leghorns to lay larger eggs as they age; so it may very well be that eggs start out small, or medium, and increase in weight and into the next category in time.

Consider the USDA egg sizing chart below:

Egg Size Classification	Egg Weight (Including Shell, In Grams)
Jumbo	70.9 g
Very Large (XL)	63.8 g
Large (L)	56.7 g
Medium (M)	49.6 g
Small (S)	42.5 g
Peewee	35.4 g

USDA Egg Sizing

So, as we can see, a Leghorn will typically fall between the medium to large categories.

Although they have been known to lay extra-large eggs too and this tends to happen when they are around 4 years of age (which coincides with decline in egg-laying production in this breed).

They are not known for laying any eggs that are in the Jumbo classification, however.

It’s also important to consider that when Leghorns start laying eggs, as in the case with any chicken, there can be greater variance. They do not tend to lay consistent eggs for a while.

Leghorns will begin to lay eggs around 6 months of age, so you can expect their eggs to start being more consistent after several months of egg-laying.

One final consideration is genetics; some Leghorns will naturally lay smaller or larger eggs depending on other birds in their lineage.

With all this being said, the Leghorn is highly sought after in the poultry industry because they do tend to lay larger eggs from the outset, compared to that of other breeds.

And they are very efficient layers!

They lay between 6-7 eggs per week, almost daily, and do not slow down in the winter (unlike some other layers). Many keepers report an egg a day in this breed and up to 320 eggs per year!

They only tend to slow down when the weather gets very hot or during the annual molt.

Lastly, it’s important to consider, that eggs are pure white when it comes to the shell color, but they are known for being particularly tasty!

Finally

Leghorn chickens are medium-sized birds that only take up to 6 months to reach their full adult size.

They also have a light appetite, not requiring much feed – with only around 125 grams required per bird per day, for sustenance.

As very efficient layers, being relatively easy to house due to their size, and with their interesting appearance too, it’s no surprise that these are such a popular breed to keep.