Ancona chicken

The Ancona originated in central Italy,[4] where it was the most widely distributed breed of chicken.[5] The first Ancona chickens were imported into England in 1851,[6] 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.[1][7]

The Ancona is a typical Mediterranean breed, rustic, lively and hardy.[4] Birds range widely and take flight easily.[7]

The plumage 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. Australia recognises a Red variety, with a chestnut to red bay ground colour.[8]

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.[4] In the United Kingdom and in the United States, but not in Italy, a rose comb is permitted.[7]

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);[4] ring sizes are 18 mm (0.71 in) and 16 mm (0.63 in) respectively for full-sized birds, and 13 mm (0.51 in) and 11 mm (0.43 in) for bantams.[9]

The Ancona is a good layer of white eggs, of which it lays an average of 220 per year;[6] the eggs weigh 50 g (1.8 oz) or more.[4] Hens have little tendency to broodiness; pullets may begin to lay at 5 months.