A Leghorn hen eats about three and a half to four ounces of complete layer feed a day, around half to three-quarters of a cup. That is a little less than a heavy dual-purpose hen eats, and the reason is efficiency: the Leghorn is a small, lean Mediterranean breed that channels feed into a remarkably high number of white eggs instead of into maintaining a large body. She is not a dainty eater, though — kilo for kilo of bird, a Leghorn in full lay works through her ration as purposefully as any breed, and she tops it up with determined foraging whenever she is let out.
Why the Leghorn Needs Less — but Not Much Less
Body size sets the floor of the ration and egg output sets the rest. A Leghorn carries perhaps two-thirds the weight of a big Rhode Island Red, so her maintenance cost is lower, but laying at her rate is metabolically expensive: protein and calcium leave her body in an egg almost daily, and the feed has to replace them. Owners who take the 'light breed, light feeding' idea too far see it in thin-shelled eggs and a hen who feels bony along the keel while still laying hard. The safer reading is that she needs a standard layer ration, freely available, in a slightly smaller total than her heavyweight neighbours consume on their own.
Feeding a Restless, Flighty Flock
Leghorns are active, alert birds that dislike crowding and fuss, so give them feeder space to eat without jostling — a pushed-aside Leghorn tends to leave and forage rather than fight for a place. Keep layer feed available all day in a dry, vermin-proof feeder, and expect the level to fall faster in the morning and again before roosting, when the flock fills up for the night. Scatter treats sparingly and widely so the whole flock gets a look-in; Leghorns are quick, and a single treat pile becomes a contest the boldest birds win. Crushed oyster shell in its own dish lets each hen regulate her calcium, and grit should be available to any bird ranging or eating whole grains. Water deserves the same attention as feed, because these busy birds drink often and a frozen or empty drinker cuts both laying and eating at once.
Range, Season, and Appetite Swings
On genuinely good range in summer, Leghorns harvest a meaningful share of their intake as insects, seeds, and greens, and the feeder may need topping up less often — but never withdraw the ration on the assumption the field is feeding them, because forage quality varies week to week invisibly. In winter, with no insects and more energy spent on warmth, expect intake to climb toward the top of the range and plan feed storage accordingly. During the moult, laying pauses but protein demand continues for feather growth, so keep the ration steady. A Leghorn that suddenly eats far more than usual while losing condition, or one producing a run of shell-less eggs, deserves a closer look at both feed freshness and her own health.
Keeping Light Birds in Good Condition
Handle a few Leghorns monthly and learn the feel of a correctly fleshed keel under those tight feathers; prominent and sharp means the flock needs more access or less competition, not necessarily more feed in the trough. A hen who stops eating, sits fluffed and apart, or drops weight rapidly should be caught and examined, with a veterinarian consulted if she is not eating again within a day. In KinsLe, Care Teams let you assign the Leghorn flock's feed, shell, and water checks to whoever is on morning chores, each marked complete with a timestamp, so this fast-moving flock never gets a skipped day.