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| Goliath The Arcona |
Ancona
chickens are beautiful birds, best known for their speckled feathers and proud
comb. First bred in the 1850's in the Italian city of Ancona, but later bred
mainly in the United Kingdom and eventually in the United States. Ironically
they are not very popular in Italy and attempts to bring them back to Italy
have been going on since the early 2000’s. They are well known as foragers,
good egg producers, and as show birds.
The
Ancona’s color is a deep green or beetle green with white speckles at the tip
of each feather. They have a medium sized comb and can have a rose comb or
single comb.Until recently they could
only have a large single comb in shows, but now rose comb varieties are
acceptable. Anconas are one of the more visual appealing breeds and seems to
share physical traits with the Leghorn, however they are a distinct breed.
Anconas are
a hardy breed especially in the winter, but their combs are susceptible to
frostbite. They are natural foragers making them economically easy to feed.
Anconas are commonly described as “flighty but friendly” sudden movements can
startle them. But they are generally easy to handle. Anconas are ideal for
laying eggs as they lay eggs really early into their life cycle. Anconas can lay
around 200 to 270 eggs a year and the eggs themselves are large and white.
About Ancona Chickens
