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Ancona Chicken Breed Info

Modified: Feb 7, 2023 by Phil · This post may contain affiliate links ·

The Ancona chicken is a Mediterranean breed hailing from Italy.

They are a dual-purpose breed but are known for being excellent layers of extra-large white eggs. Ancona hens produce up to 220 eggs per year.

A beautiful Ancona Chicken in a chicken coop.

They are also non-setters, which is good news if you plan to collect eggs rather than hatch them. If you want to breed and raise Ancona chicks, you’ll need to find a broody hen to sit on the eggs.

This breed is highly active and prefers to be free-range. They require lots of room to roam and forage.

Jump to:
  • Ancona Chicken Breed Quick Info
  • Origins of the Ancona Chicken
  • Some Things to Know About the Ancona Chicken
  • How Easy is it to Keep Ancona Chickens?
  • Special Care and Considerations for Ancona Chickens
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Ancona Chicken Breed Quick Info

Wyandotte Chicken Description

Ancona Type/Size:Standard
Feather Color:Black and white
Leg Type:Clean
Leg Color:Yellow
Skin Color:Yellow
Ancona Ease of Raising/Keeping:Easy
Ancona Special Care Needs:No
Is the Ancona breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken?Rare, “threatened” status

Ancona Use

MeatYes
EggsYes
Dual PurposeYes
Ancona Temperament:Active, pheasant-like
Ancona Ability/Likelihood to Free Range:Yes

Ancona Egg Production

Egg ColorWhite
Egg SizeX-Large
Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year150-220
Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise ChicksLow

Ancona Meat Production

Dressed Weight Male4 ¼ lbs.
Dressed Weight Female3 ¼ lbs.

Ancona Climate Tolerance

HeatExcellent
ColdExcellent

Ancona Age to Maturity

Number of Months to Reach Full Size5 Months
Number of Months to Start Egg Laying5 Months
Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest Size16 Weeks

Ancona Size at Maturity

Male6 lbs.
Female4 ½ lbs.

Origins of the Ancona Chicken

A big Ancona rooster in a backyard.

This breed originated in the seaside town of Ancona in the Marche region of Italy. They were developed using early Leghorns, resulting in a high-producing, hardy bird.

See also  7 Ways How to Tell Male and Female Silkies Apart

Anconas were imported to the United States from England in the late 19th century.

Today, they are popular in the United States and England but are rare in their native region of Marche. In 2000, an initiative was started to re-establish the breed in Italy.

Some Things to Know About the Ancona Chicken

A beautiful Ancona Chicken in a backyard.

Anconas have a beautiful, striking appearance. Their plumage is black-mottled with white tips. The white mottles will grow in size and number as the bird gets older. This process is often referred to as “going grey.”

They are about the same size and shape, if not a bit heavier, than the Leghorn. There is a single comb, and a rose comb variety. This breed has yellow legs and white earlobes.

How Easy is it to Keep Ancona Chickens?

Two Ancona Chickens gobbling in a backyard.

Ancona chickens are easy to care for, especially if you have experience raising free-range chickens.

These birds do best when allowed to roam freely over a large area. Their active nature requires a lot of space to run and forage.

They are also predator-savvy. Their alert temperament means they are more likely to spot a predator and make a run for it than other, less observant breeds. They are also able to fly to escape capture easily. Their dark color helps to hide them from aerial predators, too.

They have a pleasant disposition despite their flightiness and do well in both warm and cold climates. Ancona hens are excellent winter layers.

Special Care and Considerations for Ancona Chickens

Like all chickens with a single comb, there is a risk of frostbite in the winter. A swipe of vaseline over the comb of the Bresse can help to protect it when the temperature drops below freezing.

See also  Burmese Bantam Chicken Breed Info

Otherwise, Ancona chickens are known to be extremely hardy and healthy.

Ancona Chicken Breed Info pinterest image.

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