The Ancona is a chicken breed originating in, and named after Ancona, Italy, but they have also been known in England since the late 19th century.
The Ancona Chicken is noted for its ability to produce white or sometimes tinted
eggs, which are sometimes small in size. It also can lay a blue tinted
egg depending on its genes. It is considered an excellent layer, as it
lays an average of five eggs a week.
The Ancona's plumage is a mottled black with white speckles that tip
the feathers. Its dark plumage makes it harder for predators to see, and
often has a green or purple tint. It is a Mediterranean breed, which
refers to its point of origin. Like other Mediterranean breeds, they are
closely feathered.
Anconas can have either a rose or a single comb, they have four toes on each foot, no feathering on its legs, and they do not possess a crest. Their combs are medium in size, and single
comb Ancona females should have lopped combs. Standard males weigh around six pounds, while hens weigh around four and a half pounds.
