• Flock of White Leghorn hens with large red combs in the barn
  • Pale yellow White Leghorn day-old chick standing on burlap
  • Basket of white eggs from the Colorful Egg Basket bundle
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White Leghorn — Day-Old Chicks

White Leghorn — Day-Old Chicks

NPIP Certified Hatchery - License #51-770

  • 280–320 Eggs/Year
  • Large White Eggs
  • 16–18 Weeks to Lay
$7.49
$7.49
Sale Sold out
  • Minimum 6 chicks per shipped order. Mix any breeds on the same hatch date to reach 6, or order 12 or more and the Marek’s vaccine is free.
  • No small order fee. Shipping is $34.95 for 6–25 chicks by USPS Priority Mail · $49.95 for 26–50
  • Live Arrival Guarantee on every shipped order
  • Marek's vaccine available: free on orders of 12 or more chicks, otherwise $0.75 per chick. Check the box in your cart.
  • Free local pickup in Preston, MD, no minimum

Checking hatch dates…

Orders close Sunday at 11:59 PM Eastern before each Tuesday hatch date. After that, that week is no longer available, so please choose another week from the dates still open.

📦 Learn how we carefully pack and ship your chicks →

If eggs are your priority, nothing beats the White Leghorn. These birds are the gold standard of egg production — lean, efficient, and relentlessly productive. They're the breed behind most commercial white eggs in the US, and for good reason: they simply lay more eggs than almost anything else.

Why backyard keepers love them:

  • 🥚 280–320 large white eggs per year — among the highest egg production of any breed, period
  • 🪶 Clean white plumage with a bright red single comb — a classic, tidy appearance
  • ☀️ Heat tolerant and efficient — their lean build means they eat less feed per egg than heavier breeds
  • 🌿 Active, alert foragers — thrive in free-range environments and are excellent at finding supplemental food
  • ⚡ Early to lay — one of the fastest breeds to reach laying age

What to expect from Chesapeake Hatchery chicks:

Our White Leghorns are selected from high-production laying lines for maximum egg output and feed efficiency. Marek's Disease vaccination is optional and is not included in the chick price. To vaccinate your chicks, check the Marek's vaccine box in your cart. Chicks are backed by our live arrival guarantee. Note: Leghorns are an active, independent breed — they're not lap chickens, but they're unmatched in the egg department.

Weeks to first egg: 16–18 weeks
Egg size: Large
Egg color: White

Common questions about White Leghorns

How many eggs do White Leghorns lay?
About 280–320 large white eggs a year, more than any other breed we hatch.

When do they start laying?
Early, usually at 16–18 weeks.

Are White Leghorns friendly?
They're active, alert and independent rather than lap chickens. They're best for keepers who care most about eggs.

Do they handle heat?
Yes. Leghorns are heat tolerant, which makes them a good fit for hot summers.

Pairs well with:

The ultimate egg machine — reserve your White Leghorn chicks for the next hatch.

Breed specifications

Production

Hens lay approximately 280–320 large white eggs per year. Actual output varies.

Maturity

Typically begins laying at 16–18 weeks. Timing varies by individual bird and growing conditions.

Temperament

Active, alert, and independent; not typically lap chickens.

Appearance

White plumage with a red single comb.

Adaptability

Heat tolerant; active free-range foragers.

Chick care overview

Brooder temperature: Start at 95°F for the first week, reducing by 5°F each week until fully feathered.

Food & water: Offer chick starter feed and fresh water immediately. Dip each chick's beak gently into the water on arrival to encourage drinking.

Hydration boost: We include hydration supplements in your shipment — add to water for the first 24–48 hours to help chicks recover from transit.

Space: Allow at least 0.5 sq ft per chick in the brooder for the first few weeks.

Watch for: Huddling under the heat source (too cold), panting or moving away from heat (too warm). Active, spread-out chicks are happy chicks.

For detailed care guides, visit our FAQs.

Shipping

Your chicks ship in a USPS-approved live animal box designed specifically for safe poultry transport, complete with soft bedding, temperature control packing, and hydration supplements for the journey.

We take immeasurable care in every shipment — each box is packed with your flock's safe arrival as our top priority.

Day-old chicks ship by USPS Priority Mail with live-animal handling, the same day they hatch. Most orders reach your local post office in 1–2 days; some rural areas take up to 3. Started pullets ship by USPS Priority Mail Express, as USPS requires for older birds.

LIVE CHICK SHIPPING

USPS Priority Mail:
6–25 chicks — $34.95
26–50 chicks — $49.95
51–100 chicks — $59.95

Optional Priority Mail Express at checkout: $56.95 for 6–25 chicks, $66.95 for 26–50, $76.95 for 51–100.

Shipping farther than a day's drive from Maryland, such as south of the Carolinas or west of Ohio? We recommend Priority Mail Express. Express chicks are loaded first and usually arrive sooner, but USPS does not guarantee delivery times for live animals.

Ordering more than 100 chicks? Call us at (410) 635-1970.

Minimum shipped order: 6 chicks • Mix & match breeds

Local Pickup — Wednesdays in Maryland
No shipping fee · No minimum order

Live Arrival Guarantee

We stand behind every shipment. In the rare event that any chicks do not survive transit, you will receive a full refund for those chicks.

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White Leghorn — Day-Old Chicks