The Ancona originated near the city of Ancona, Italy, from early Leghorns and other breeds. Its mixed ancestry gives it extreme hardiness and prolificacy. Anconas were originally known as Black Leghorns because of their color, which is black with evenly white-tipped feathers. As with Leghorns, Anconas are known primarily for egg-laying and produce large numbers of white eggs. They were once one of the prime egg-producing breeds in Europe, and joined American farm flocks in the 19th century. Active and busy birds, they are good foragers and said to be indifferent to climate.
Varieties: Single Comb, Rose Comb.
Standard Weights: Cock-6 pounds; hen-4-1/2 pounds; cockerel 5 pounds; pullet-4 pounds.
Use: A small fowl that lays a fair number of rather small eggs.
Status: Rare. The Ancona is quite unusual in the U.S. as a production breed.
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Box 477, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312