Ancona Chicken Thread

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That is a really big comb. Here's what mine look like.

 

[bruceha2000]

My Anconas comb is sooooo huge that it flops over ridiculously. As she turned it flopped up. Is it normal for it to be sooooo huge... she is a girl she lays an egg!

My two had really big combs the first year as well though maybe not quite THAT big. They shrank back at first adult moult and have been smaller since. Maybe the girls figured it is too cold here in the winter to wear big "hats".

 

[Amelia Egghart]

Hi! I'm looking for white egg layers to add to my backyard mixed flock. It's about two thirds of an acre surrounded by a 6ft fence. Lots of coyotes and hawks so the birds are locked in a run until about 9am and then again at dusk and all day on Fridays. The rooster in charge is a large, dominant Easter Egger who has a good command and eye for predators.

I was looking at polish and sultan because I can get them sexed from Meyer, but while their personalities would be a match, I'm afraid they'd be hawk bait.

Would Anconas be a good addition? I like predator aware birds that have some camouflage to them, but also social birds that enjoy human company (these are pets, after all) and aren't going to be a squawkfest for the neighbors to complain about.

Thank you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mine are good foragers. They are similar to leghorns in personality, so mine aren't interested in me at all, though I don't hand tame any of my birds. My polish have also been good at free ranging, though I do trim crests on my laced varieties.

 

[Amelia Egghart]

Mine are good foragers. They are similar to leghorns in personality, so mine aren't interested in me at all, though I don't hand tame any of my birds. My polish have also been good at free ranging, though I do trim crests on my laced varieties.

Thanks for the info. How noisy are they? Both breeds, actually, as polish might be good, too, with a haircut, that is.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mine don't carry on like some breeds do, both breeds lay their eggs than go on with their business. Polish can be quite hysterical, so handling them more as chicks would probably help, and the Ancona would probably be more friendly too.

I got mine through My Pet Chicken, other lines might be different. My buff laced polish have been my best producers, even better than the Ancona, and they go out foraging farther than any other breed I have. They get their topnot trimmed down a few times during and after the molt, as well as after they reach sexual maturity. The white crested varieties don't seem to need a trim but don't lay as well.

 

[SanderB]

Some roosters from this year.

 

[CoopintheWoods]

I have an Ancona pullet, and I was wondering at what age I could expect her to start laying eggs. Any opinions?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Generally anywhere from 4-6 months, depending on time of year.

 

[ShellyV]

I have a couple of ancona. Just started laying a few weeks ago but there eggs are small. Is this normal?