Ancona Ducks

[jenniferlamar70]

Clucking Lovely what ever she is ,she is neat looking. I had a blue Swedish that was marked like that but in blue grey color. good luck.

I have a black swedish just like this. She is definitely a black swedish but my brain is working overtime lol. I should have realized right away.

 

[learycow]

I read online that they're not very common? I believe the word endangered was used? I find it hard to believe she is an ancona, i picked her up at an auction for $12

The livestock conservancy has them listed as critical, but they are in fact a VERY common breed. There are way more now than there were 5 years ago.
But finding QUALITY PURE anconas, that's a struggle as there are some breeders who cross them (thinking they are bettering the breed) and there are crosses out there patterned like an ancona so it makes it hard to be sure they are pure when breeding. You really have to know the breeder and how they breed/ what lines are used to ensure you are getting anconas. There is no standard (yet) so people can breed for different traits. Makes it harder to narrow the breed down by type

 

[learycow]

I read online that they're not very common? I believe the word endangered was used? I find it hard to believe she is an ancona, i picked her up at an auction for $12

The livestock conservancy has them listed as critical, but they are in fact a VERY common breed. There are way more now than there were 5 years ago.
But finding QUALITY PURE anconas, that's a struggle as there are some breeders who cross them (thinking they are bettering the breed) and there are crosses out there patterned like an ancona so it makes it hard to be sure they are pure when breeding. You really have to know the breeder and how they breed/ what lines are used to ensure you are getting anconas. There is no standard (yet) so people can breed for different traits. Makes it harder to narrow the breed down by type

Anconas are desired to have the typical "saddle" markings, and be mostly black, paricularly on their backs, with some white. Magpies are more randomly patterned, usually with spots, and are smaller (4.5-6 pounds), but Anconas can have spots, and are 5.5-7.5 pounds. Magpies are more conformed like Cayugas, and Anconas are more conformed like Silver Appleyards.

Incorrect.
Anconas are supposed to have an asymmetrical pattern with spots rather than patches. These are a medium weight bird, similar in shape and size to a buff duck.
Magpies should have a full cap and saddle. These are smaller than anconas, closer in size to a khaki

 

[jenniferlamar70]

The livestock conservancy has them listed as critical, but they are in fact a VERY common breed. There are way more now than there were 5 years ago.
But finding QUALITY PURE anconas, that's a struggle as there are some breeders who cross them (thinking they are bettering the breed) and there are crosses out there patterned like an ancona so it makes it hard to be sure they are pure when breeding. You really have to know the breeder and how they breed/ what lines are used to ensure you are getting anconas. There is no standard (yet) so people can breed for different traits. Makes it harder to narrow the breed down by type
Incorrect. 
Anconas are supposed to have an asymmetrical pattern with spots rather than patches. These are a medium weight bird, similar in shape and size to a buff duck.
Magpies should have a full cap and saddle. These are smaller than anconas, closer in size to a khaki

X2

 

[minihorse927]

just absolutely love this photo of my drake

 

[Quackalackin]

Can anyone confirm if this is truly an Ancona? I haven't seen a solid one like this before, but my mom bought her from someone who said she was Ancona. We got the chocolate colored one in the picture below

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Can anyone confirm if this is truly an Ancona? I haven't seen a solid one like this before, but my mom bought her from someone who said she was Ancona. We got the chocolate colored one in the picture below

No they all look like swedish ducks to me. The chocolate is not a common color and very hard to find in my area. Blue is the most common. Black comes in second. I have 2 and they are great ducks. Good layers I've heard as well even though mine haven't started yet.

 

[minihorse927]

Can anyone confirm if this is truly an Ancona? I haven't seen a solid one like this before, but my mom bought her from someone who said she was Ancona. We got the chocolate colored one in the picture below

I agree these appear more Swedish than anything. I've seen some very solid colored Ancona but these don't even come close to matching type of Ancona. They are built more like Swedish.

 

[The Duck Ladie]

Since there seems to be confusion about the different coloring of Magpies and Anconas, here some pictures to help you out.



This is a Magpie.


This is an Ancona.
These are Anconas too (below)



As you can see the Magpie's pattern has more definite patches of coloring, while the Ancona's patches of coloring are pretty random.

 

[learycow]

You have to keep in mind that some magpies can be lightly marked and look like anconas. And some anconas are heavily marked and can look like magpies. And without an actual standard for anconas, breeders don't always keep size in mind so it's not always easy to tell based on body type or size.
So unless you know the breeding, don't consider them pure.

Can anyone confirm if this is truly an Ancona? I haven't seen a solid one like this before, but my mom bought her from someone who said she was Ancona. We got the chocolate colored one in the picture below

Based on size and coloring, definitely not pure anconas.
While anconas can be heavily marked, these don't display any other features that would make me think anconas. Wrong body type and they look large, solid bills and feet, and of course the coloring.