How Many Eggs Does a Leghorn Lay Per Year?
A Leghorn hen lays 250 to 320 eggs per year. Realistic estimates by strain and age, a month-by-month breakdown, and a formula for any flock size.
A Leghorn hen lays 250 to 320 eggs per year in a typical backyard setting. The biggest variable is strain: hatchery and production lines sit at the top of that band, around 280 to 320, while exhibition and heritage birds lay closer to 150 to 250. For a healthy first-year hen in a well-managed flock, the most realistic estimate is 280 to 300 eggs annually.
Want the full picture on this breed? See our Leghorn (White) breed profile — temperament, care needs, and climate fit.
Use the egg production calculator to model your specific flock.
Production ranges
A Leghorn’s annual total depends mostly on her strain, her age, and how much daylight she gets. Here is the realistic spread.
| Scenario | Annual eggs | Avg / week | Avg / day | When this happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | ~250 | ~4.8 | ~0.68 | Heritage or exhibition strain, older bird, or winter without added light |
| Normal | ~290 | ~5.6 | ~0.79 | Production-strain hen, Year 1 to 2, natural daylight, standard layer feed |
| High | ~320 | ~6.2 | ~0.88 | Production strain, Year 1, 16-hr lighting, 16 to 18% protein |
The Normal row is the most realistic starting point for planning. It assumes a healthy production-strain hen in her first or second year, eating layer feed, on natural daylight. Most backyard Leghorns land here over a full calendar year once you account for molt and winter.
Strain splits this breed in half. A hatchery or commercial White Leghorn often clears 300 in her first cycle. An exhibition or heritage bird from a show line can sit closer to 150 to 250. Ask your hatchery which line you are buying before you set your expectations.
By year, month, week, and day
The same totals, broken into smaller units so you can plan egg supply against how your household actually uses them.
| Time period | Low (~250/yr) | Normal (~290/yr) | High (~320/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | 250 | 290 | 320 |
| Per month (average) | ~21 | ~24 | ~27 |
| Per week (average) | ~4.8 | ~5.6 | ~6.2 |
| Per day (average) | ~0.68 | ~0.79 | ~0.88 |
| Dozens per year | ~21 | ~24 | ~27 |
A hen lays one egg roughly every 24 to 26 hours when she is in full production, and she skips a day now and then to let her system catch up. That is why even a top Leghorn averages a little under one egg a day across the year rather than a clean 365.
The formula
You can scale any of these figures to your own flock with one line of math. Use the Leghorn’s peak weekly rate as the baseline, then adjust for age and season.
Weekly eggs = Number of hens × 6.5 × Age Factor × Season Factor
The 6.5 is the midpoint of a Leghorn’s 6 to 7 egg peak week. Apply the factors below.
| Factor | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Year 1 (peak) | ×1.00 |
| Year 2 | ×0.84 |
| Year 3 | ×0.66 |
| Year 4 | ×0.50 |
| Year 5 | ×0.38 |
| Spring / Summer | ×1.00 |
| Fall (Sept to Oct) | ×0.90 |
| Winter, no supplemental light | ×0.75 |
| Winter, 16-hr light schedule | ×0.95 |
Example: 6 hens × 6.5 × 0.84 (Year 2) × 0.75 (winter, no light) = ~25 eggs per week.
Use the egg production calculator to run these numbers for your flock by age and season without doing the math by hand.
How production drops year over year
A Leghorn does not stop laying on a birthday. Output slides down a predictable curve as she ages. Here is the Normal annual figure carried through five years, for one hen and for a six-bird flock.
| Year | Per hen / year | Per hen / week | 6-bird flock / year | 6-bird flock / week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (peak) | ~290 | ~5.6 | ~1,740 | ~34 |
| Year 2 | ~244 | ~4.7 | ~1,464 | ~28 |
| Year 3 | ~191 | ~3.7 | ~1,146 | ~22 |
| Year 4 | ~145 | ~2.8 | ~870 | ~17 |
| Year 5 | ~110 | ~2.1 | ~660 | ~13 |
Production hybrids bred from Leghorn stock can fall off a little faster than this, since they were pushed hard early. If you want a steady supply, add a few young pullets every other year so the flock average stays high while older hens taper off.
Month by month (first-year hen)
Leghorns hold winter better than most heritage breeds, but short days still pull their numbers down. This table shows a first-year hen on natural light against the same hen with a 16-hour coop lighting schedule.
| Month | Natural light only | With 16-hr coop lighting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 26 | Shortest days, but Leghorns keep going |
| February | 22 | 26 | Days lengthening |
| March | 26 | 27 | Strong spring lay |
| April | 28 | 28 | Near peak |
| May | 29 | 29 | Peak month |
| June | 28 | 28 | Peak holds |
| July | 27 | 27 | Slight heat dip, handled well |
| August | 26 | 26 | Steady |
| September | 24 | 25 | Daylight shortening |
| October | 22 | 26 | Add light now if you want to |
| November | 19 | 25 | Natural lay drops |
| December | 18 | 25 | Minimum without lighting |
If you plan to use supplemental light, start in early September before the days shorten, and bring it up gradually. Aim for about 14 to 16 total hours. A sudden jump can stress the birds, so ramp it over a week or two.
What changes the number
Most of the gap between a 250-egg year and a 320-egg year comes down to a handful of factors. These are the ones that move a Leghorn’s total the most.
Strain or breed line
Strain is the single biggest lever for this breed. Industrial and hatchery White Leghorns average around 6 eggs a week and routinely clear 280 to 320 a year. Heritage and exhibition lines run closer to 4 to 5 eggs a week, which lands them in the 150 to 250 range. Same breed name, very different output, so confirm the line when you buy.
Daylight and coop lighting
A hen needs roughly 14 to 16 hours of light a day to sustain peak laying. Below that, her body reads the short days as a signal to rest, and output tapers through late fall and winter. Leghorns respond well to a supplemental light schedule and tend to lay through their first and second winters more reliably than heavier breeds.
Annual molt
Leghorns usually take their first real molt around 18 to 24 months of age, then once a year after that. A molt typically runs 8 to 12 weeks, and laying pauses or drops sharply while feathers regrow. Bump protein to around 18 to 20% during the molt to support new feather growth and a faster return to lay. For an unexplained sharp drop in laying outside of molt, or any sign of illness or injury, consult a licensed poultry veterinarian or your local extension service.
Feed protein
Layer feed at 16 to 18% protein keeps a Leghorn at her best. Drop below about 14% and you will usually see production slide within roughly two weeks. Offer free-choice oyster shell alongside the feed so shell quality holds up, since heavy layers pull a lot of calcium. Use the feed cost calculator to estimate what feeding your flock at that protein level actually costs per month.
Heat and cold
Leghorns are a Mediterranean breed and handle heat well. Their lightweight bodies and large combs shed warmth efficiently, so laying holds through summer better than it does for heavier breeds. Cold is the weaker side. The large single comb is prone to frostbite below freezing, and a frostbitten bird will often pause laying while she recovers. Rose-comb Leghorn lines tolerate cold better. In a cold climate, keep the coop dry and draft-free, add deep bedding, and check combs through winter.
How Leghorns compare
First-year production under normal backyard conditions. Leghorns sit near the top of the layer breeds, matched mainly by purpose-bred hybrids.
| Breed | Annual eggs | Egg color | Type | Vs Leghorn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Leghorn | 250 to 320 | White | Production | Baseline |
| ISA Brown | 300 to 320 | Brown | Hybrid | Higher |
| Rhode Island Red | 250 to 300 | Brown | Heritage | Similar |
| Plymouth Rock | 200 to 280 | Brown | Heritage | Lower |
| Buff Orpington | 180 to 220 | Light brown | Heritage | Lower |
The honest verdict: a Leghorn is the right pick if eggs are your main goal and you do not mind a flighty, hands-off bird. Few breeds match her output per pound of feed, and her white eggs are large and consistent. She is the wrong pick if you want a calm lap chicken, a dual-purpose bird for meat, or a breed that shrugs off hard winters without help. For that, a heritage layer like a Rhode Island Red or Plymouth Rock trades some eggs for temperament and cold tolerance.
Use the breed selector quiz to compare breeds against your climate and goals.
Frequently asked questions
How many eggs does a Leghorn lay per year?
A Leghorn hen lays about 250 to 320 eggs per year, with 280 to 300 being the realistic figure for a healthy production-strain bird in her first or second year. Heritage and exhibition lines lay less, usually 150 to 250.
How many eggs does a Leghorn lay per week?
A Leghorn at peak lays 6 to 7 eggs a week. Production strains hold the top of that range, while heritage birds average closer to 4 to 5 eggs a week.
When do Leghorns start laying?
Leghorns start laying early, usually between 16 and 20 weeks of age. That is several weeks ahead of most heavier dual-purpose breeds, which often wait until 6 to 8 months.
Do Leghorns lay eggs in winter?
Yes, Leghorns are better winter layers than most breeds, especially in their first and second years. Output still drops as daylight shortens, and a 14 to 16 hour lighting schedule will keep production closer to peak if you choose to use one.
How long do Leghorns keep laying?
A Leghorn lays well for about 3 to 4 years, with her strongest output in years 1 and 2. She will keep laying after that at a slowly declining rate rather than stopping outright.
How many eggs will 6 Leghorn hens lay per year?
Six first-year Leghorn hens will lay roughly 1,700 to 1,900 eggs a year under normal conditions, or about 140 to 160 dozen. Use the eggs per family calculator to match that supply to how many eggs your household actually goes through.
Why did my Leghorn stop laying?
The most common reasons are short winter days, an annual molt, age, or a recent stressor like a move, a predator scare, or a heat wave. If the pause comes with no molt, no seasonal change, and any sign of illness or injury, have her checked by a poultry vet or your local extension service.
Sources: Grubbly Farms (grubblyfarms.com), Hatching Time (hatchingtime.com), Thrifty Homesteader (thriftyhomesteader.com), University of Missouri (record-laying study). For health concerns about your flock, consult a licensed poultry veterinarian. Last reviewed June 2026.