Ancona Chicken Thread

[BeardedLadyFarm]

Hi Ancona lovers,

I just read through the whole thread, and emailed a couple of you with Rose Combed birds.

I recently got 8 Ancona hens from Whitmore Farm. Will has been doing a lot of work with his flock for a few years now, and has some lovely straight combed birds. I picked up 8 hens that he was retiring. I've just moved from the city to a farm in NY state. I have 110 acres to play on now!

I'm looking for a Rose Combed Ancona rooster! I want to take the work that Will has done with his straight combed birds, and start a new line of RC birds.

I would be happy to start with eggs or chicks as well, but finding a cockerel or rooster would be ideal, as I will have 8 hens laying full force in a couple of months.

I'll try to get some photos of the hens to prove I'm a member of the Ancona club!

 

[buffalogal]

Alas, there really isn't an official Ancona Club, at least, not at this time. The original club was called the "American Ancona Club" and ten years later the name was changed to the "Ancona Club of America". They eventually joined with another club that had been called "The Ancona Club" and became the "United Ancona Club". I really like that name, as it showed they were willing to put aside their differences for the sake of promoting the breed. UAC used to publish a year book and a magazine called the Ancona World, and also "valuable special prizes" at shows.

I know there are a number of talented people who raise the breed, and I think more would take them up if there was a club to help generate interest. If anyone would be interested in reviving the old United Ancona Club, I've got tons of web space to host it.

 

[armadatrobb]

nice.. :0

 

[Amyable]

Hey folks,
Has anyone noticed if their hens get whiter with every molt? I have 3 year-and-a-half old hens who just finished molting and they are all noticeably lighter; one in particular is now so white she looks more like an Ancona/Leghorn cross. She actually has more white than black now. Does that have any bearing on a breeding program?

 

[Nava]

Quote:
Not the Anconasb but there was this one Black Orp that on her first molt changed here take a look.

does yours look anything like this?

 

[Amyable]

Wow, that's pretty drastic. Yeah, something like that. I'll try to get a pic today. Maybe it's her 'gray' showing thru?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Mine is just 18 weeks old. When should I expect her 1st molt?

 

[Amyable]

Ok, here we go. BEFORE (last fall, about 6 months old)

TODAY (1.5 years old, with one of her 'normal' looking sisters in the back)

I noticed all 3 girls got more white to some degree, but she takes the cake. Michael Jackson syndrome?

 

[buckabucka]

Wow. I love that white Ancona!

Our speckled Sussex's head came in all white after her molt, so now we call her "snowcap".

 

[Yellow House Farm]

The mottled color pattern has the tendency to moult in lighter each year. For this reason it's best to start out by selecting pullets and cockerels that are darker than the ideal such that they moult in well their second year.

Resurrecting the UAC? Could be cool.