Ancona Chicken Thread

[babyrnlc]

Cute.

I was told Dottie was a boy but we kept her. Glad we did. I still get told she is a rooster when people come over. I go "oh wow. I bet I am the only person that has a rooster that lays eggs!"

 

[Amyable]

Quote:
Yep, for most people, a big comb = roo.

 

[Amyable]

Need some opinions: I got a few adult Ancona roos from a fellow BYCer in August. She got them at a swap and does not know their origination. I would like to keep one to play around with until I can get started with rosecombs.

Roo 1 has nice body type and good speckling, but lots of white in his tail. Roo 2 is not as nice in the body but has almost no extraneous white feathers, and also totally lost his comb to frostbite so his head looks a little pathetic. I don't know who to keep! Been thinking aout this for months. SO many Anconas have way too much white in their tail and wing feathers, but I'd like a bird with a little more bulk too.

 

[Nava]

Quote:
by the APA, they are supossed to have white on the tip of their feathers, if it were me I would pick #2

and you said that you wanted more bulk?
the standard weight is 6lbs cock 41/2 Hen.

disqualifications: more than 20% above or below standard weight.

would like to see some pics!!!!!

 

[Amyable]

Yes Nava, I know 1/3 of the feather tips are supposed to be white. But isn't the tail supposed to be all black? The drawings of Anconas in the standard show black tails, with speckled bodies. Out of 6 roos I've had in the last year, only one has an all-black tail.

Here is a pic of both roos. I have a few more of them individually if you want. They are so skittish; tough buggers to photograph. Not sure on their weights, that will be trickier.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

The tail is black with a white tip on each feather--not an easy feat. The cocks' tails in that photo are what's called squirrel tailed. It's an unfortunately common fault with hatchery stock.

 

[Amyable]

Quote:
I've seen that definition before but not sure what it refers to. How can you tell? Perhaps I should scrap all roos?

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Squirrel tail implies that it's pointing straight up like a sat squirrel. It's an extremely common defect with hatchery Anconas. An ideal male's tail is 40 degrees above horizonatal. From only one pic, the male to the right is the better of the two. The male to the left seems to have several issues.

I wouldn't scrap them if you have females. THey can give you breeding experience while you search for stock the better approaches the Standard.

 

[bobbieschicks]

My AC is now 10 weeks old! I am hoping she's a she - everyone on what gender thinks she's a pullet. If not, I suppose I'll have to choose between AC and Foghorn (the White Leghorn roo).

Here's some pics of her Tuesday on her birthday. She's growing up fast! I found her tonight huddled over on the "bigs" side of the roost with her siblings & the WLroo & pullet. She is the sweetest chicken I own so far. She actually comes over to me and stands there waiting for me to rub her belly and give her some MEALYWORMS! Her favorite treat.

Here she is a couple of weeks ago with her brooder mates, before the other 3 WL roos were given away.

 

[Nava]

Quote:
yep, she is a she