Ancona chicken
 | |
| Country of origin | Italy; United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Use | eggs |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
|
| Skin color | Yellow |
| Egg color | White |
| Comb type | Single or rose |
| Classification | |
| APA | Mediterranean[1] |
| PCGB | Soft feather: light[2] |
| |
The Ancona is a breed of chicken which originated in the Marche region of Italy, but which was bred to its present type mainly in the United Kingdom in the 19th century. It is named after the city of Ancona, capital of the Marche. It is popular in Britain and the United States, but uncommon in Italy; an initiative to re-establish it in its native area and preserve its biodiversity was launched in 2000.[3] There are also Ancona bantams.
History
The first Ancona chickens were imported into England in 1851,[4] and selectively bred there for regularity and consistency of the white markings in the plumage. In 1880 a breeder named Cobb showed a group. Some birds were exported from Britain to the United States in 1888. Rose-combed Ancona chickens were first shown in Birmingham in 1910.[5]
In the United States, the single-comb Ancona was recognised by the American Poultry Association in 1898, and the rose-comb bird in 1914.[6][1]
Characteristics
The Ancona is a good layer of white eggs, of which it lays an average of 220 per year;[4] the eggs weigh 50 g or more.[7] Hens have little tendency to broodiness; pullets may begin to lay at 5 months. It is a typical Mediterranean breed, rustic, lively and hardy.[7] Birds range widely and take flight easily.[6]
The plumage of the Ancona is black mottled with white. Approximately one feather in three has a v-shaped white marking at the tip. All primaries, sickles and tail-feathers should have white tips. The black feathers may have a beetle green tint. In Italy, blue mottled with white is also recognised in full-size birds, but not in bantams.
The legs are yellow mottled with black, the beak yellow with some black markings on the upper mandible, and the eye orange-red. The skin is yellow, the ear-lobes white or cream-coloured. The comb is of medium size, with five well-marked points; in hens it should fall gracefully to one side.[7] In the United Kingdom and in the United States, but not in Italy, a rose comb is permitted.[6]
Cocks weigh 2.5 to 2.8 kg (5.5 to 6.2 lb) and hens 1.8 to 2.1 kg (4.0 to 4.6 lb);[7] ring sizes are 18 mm and 16 mm respectively for full-sized birds, and 13 mm and 11 mm for bantams.[8]
References
- ^ a b APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties as of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Accessed August 2014.
- ^ Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Accessed August 2014.
- ^ Pollo Ancona: biodiversità e animali da fattoria (in Italian). Associazione Civiltà Contadina per la salvaguardia della biodiversità rurale. Accessed June 2013.
- ^ a b Breed data sheet: Ancona/Italy. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2014.
- ^ Alessio Zanon (2003–2012). Ancona (in Italian). Il Pollaio del Re. Accessed June 2013.
- ^ a b c Ancona Chicken. American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, 1993–2009. Accessed June 2013.
- ^ a b c d Ancona (in Italian). Atlante delle razze di Polli - Razze italiane. Accessed June 2013.
- ^ Elenco delle razze riconosciute dallo Standard Italiano: anelli di riconoscimento e colorazioni ufficiali (in Italian). Federazione Italiana Associazioni Avicole. Archived 27 June 2013.