Ancona Chicken Thread

[Apyl]

Could some of you vetrin chicken flolks respond to the pros and cons of Ancona Rose comb hens verses Hamburg hens I have heard that the Hamburg hens have a very long laying career but it seems like their body type may be a bit smaller than the Ancona. Any other pluses and minuses you can think off?

Thanks

Sorry I have no clue. I've never heard of a rose comb Ancona and never seen nor owned a Hamburg. I do know my Ancona (pictures in the previous post) lays an egg everyday, maybe skipping 1 day hear and there.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

It's actually difficult to discuss breeds because when we do we're often discussing projected ideals that are either SOP-based, or they are historical ideals, which may or may not have ever existed. In theory, RC Anconas and Hamburgs are similar in type, which means shape, but there are very important, clear differences between them. What makes up their colors are completely different genetic processes. As per their rose comb, the Ancona leader extends back horizontally, whereas the Hamburg's leader curls slightly up. Traditionally the Ancona was held to lay larger eggs, although the two would/should/could be comparable in volume. Hamburgs are probably held to be "flightier", which somehow has come to be held as a negative, which is unjust. The art of handling fowl of differing temperaments is knowing when and how to handle and approach them.

In reality, however, much depends on the breeder of the birds. Egg size is something for which one can select. Volume of egg-production is also a matter of selection. Temperament can be highly genetic. On BYC, it is common to discuss breeds as if hoped for qualities were the rule; the reality, however, is that very many qualities are actually dependent on consistent, year-in and year-out selection by the breeder, and if the qualities in question are not actually part of the selection criteria of the breeder's work, they will begin to diminish and even be absent from the strain of birds produced.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

I have heard that the Hamburg hens have a very long laying career

This is an example of something that is strain based and then, within, the strain there will be a spectrum of possibility.

 

[buffalogal]

Walked out yesterday and one of the puppies had found this little feller: yes, it's a RC Ancona. No, I had no idea I had a broody setting a nest.

After I drove to the feed store and picked up a half dozen Easter egger pullets to keep him company, I caught sight of the hen with her dozen or so peeps. I could see several Ancona chicks in the group; not surprising as she's part of the band of Ancona, Game, & Dominique hens headed by a RC Ancona cock that spend their time at the front gate and scratching in the bar ditch along the road. Though he's fast asleep in the sunshine in this picture, the little guy is doing fine.

 

[messy monkeys]

New to the site. Can you all help? Went to a flock swap and got a chick that was supposed to be an "anaconda, like the snake" according to the old man we bought "her" from. He also stated that she would feather out "real pretty, black with white dots". I had done enough research before we started our flock that I knew that wasn't the name of a breed, but as this chick is feathering out I am doubting that she is an ancona or a female. This same old timer looked at the wing feathers to sex the chick...hence, my doubts that it is a girl. I get that the sex of this little chick will be in question for a few weeks yet, but can you all put the question of breed to rest? Is this a true ancona?
This chick seems to have a ton of white, but we have had a hard time finding pictures of the time between fuzzy little chick and hens big enough to lay eggs.

Above is the way the chick looked when we bought it. Below is the chick two weeks later.

One more pic showing the comb...the chick is about a week younger than our buff orpington, but the comb is twice the size. The chick is three weeks old here. I love this chicks gray/blue eyes!

We are new to raising chickens. We have a couple older hens (came to us grown) and are raising 6 chicks. I want eggs, so a "mutt" isn't the end of the world, but NO roo's are staying here! If this isn't an ancona, it has a large comb. If it is, then we wait to hear a cock-a-doodle-doo! This is our sweetest chick, so we have decided that if it is a roo, we won't re-home him until he crows just to be sure.
Thanks for any help. Sorry for posting in this thread, but I knew that the people here should know the ancona better than anyone else!
Thanks again.

 

[EconMan]

Looks just like my Anconas. They will gain more black as they grow. Comb will be large due to breed so don't let that fool you.

 

[messy monkeys]

Thank you, EconMan!
We are fairly trusting people, so it was hard thinking that we were hoodwinked. We will continue to enjoy this chick's great personality and wait for the color to change.
Hopefully, it will be a pullet...the guy had a 50/50 shot even with a guess!

 

[bruceha2000]

New to the site. Can you all help? Went to a flock swap and got a chick that was supposed to be an "anaconda, like the snake" according to the old man we bought "her" from. He also stated that she would feather out "real pretty, black with white dots". I had done enough research before we started our flock that I knew that wasn't the name of a breed, but as this chick is feathering out I am doubting that she is an ancona or a female. This same old timer looked at the wing feathers to sex the chick...hence, my doubts that it is a girl. I get that the sex of this little chick will be in question for a few weeks yet, but can you all put the question of breed to rest? Is this a true ancona?
This chick seems to have a ton of white, but we have had a hard time finding pictures of the time between fuzzy little chick and hens big enough to lay eggs.

Above is the way the chick looked when we bought it. Below is the chick two weeks later.

One more pic showing the comb...the chick is about a week younger than our buff orpington, but the comb is twice the size. The chick is three weeks old here. I love this chicks gray/blue eyes!


If this isn't an ancona, it has a large comb. If it is, then we wait to hear a cock-a-doodle-doo! This is our sweetest chick, so we have decided that if it is a roo, we won't re-home him until he crows just to be sure.
Thanks for any help. Sorry for posting in this thread, but I knew that the people here should know the ancona better than anyone else!
Thanks again.

First

Second, why be sorry for posting here? It is the PERFECT place!

Here is a picture of one of my Anconas at 3 weeks:


So you are good with the color. I'm a bit worried about that comb though. As you can see, my girl doesn't have nearly the comb your bird has.

Mine, especially Zia, are the "Miss Bossy Pants" of the flock. Clearly the "top dog" and she isn't shy about showing it. She hopped on the back of one of the Partridge Chanteclers this afternoon, I think because she was ticked the PC went out the coop door in front of her. Zia got a little ride on my foot for that. Not kicked but lifted and tossed. Why? Because *I* am the top dog and I don't like her jumping MY chickens

Bruce

 

[ChiChiLady]

I think your post of picture and question about breed are very appropriate for the Ancona thread.

Thank you Bruce for your comments on working with your birds. I want to emphasize that if you do not respectfully establish your place in the flock you can get jumped on and pecked at by your hens or your roosters. I did not realize this was important with my first batch of birds and I now have a rooster I need to either A: smother with love and affection daily or B: put in the soup pot. I am leaning toward the soup pot as I am not planning on breading this rooster.

Also thank you to Yellow Farm house for your detailed answer to my question of comparison of Anconas verses Hamburgs. I am back to wanting RC Anconas again although I am flirting with the idea of getting Ixworth hatching eggs. Weather it is Ixworth or RC Ancona that I decide to go with I still want another year or two of experience under my belt before working with these rarer breeds.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[Cryptkeeper]

I just got three of these birds today. Free from the feed store. I hear they are are flighty and noisy??