Ancona
The Ancona originated near the
city of Ancona, Italy, from early Leghorns and other breeds. Its mixed ancestry
gives it extreme hardiness and prolificacy. Anconas were originally known as
Black Leghorns because of their color, which is black with evenly white-tipped
feathers. As with Leghorns, Anconas are known primarily for egg-laying and
produce large numbers of white eggs. They were once one of the prime
egg-producing breeds in Europe, and joined American farm flocks in the 19th
century. Active and busy birds, they are good foragers and said to be
indifferent to climate.
Varieties: Single Comb, Rose Comb.
Standard Weights: Cock-6 pounds; hen-4-1/2 pounds; cockerel 5 pounds; pullet-4 pounds.
Use: A small fowl that lays a fair number of rather small eggs.
Status: Rare. The Ancona is quite unusual in the U.S. as a production breed.
Reference:
Chicken Breeds and Varieties (A2880), John L. Skinner,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Box 477, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312
Photographs:
Watt Publishing, 122 S. Wesley Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 USA
