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
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📦 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. Select the vaccination add-on when ordering if you would like your chicks vaccinated. 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
The ultimate egg machine — reserve your White Leghorn chicks for the next hatch.
Breed specifications
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
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
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.
We ship USPS Priority Express only — the fastest available service, with live animal handling and typically overnight delivery.
LIVE CHICK SHIPPING
6–14 chicks — $44.95
15–25 chicks — $39.95 — BEST VALUE
26–50 chicks — $79.95
51–100 chicks — $99.95
Minimum shipped order: 6 chicks • Mix & match breeds
Order 15–25 chicks and receive our lowest live-chick shipping rate.
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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