Ancona chickens: The homesteader’s ideal egg layer
Prolific layers. Prolific foragers. Prolific evaders. And thriving in heat and cold alike. Ancona chickens are ideal birds for homesteaders for so many reasons.
Incredibly flighty. Incredibly noisy. Incredibly curious. And roaming adventurers at heart. Ancona chickens aren’t right for everybody. People with very small yards in densely populated areas may want to look elsewhere.
But are they right for you? In this article, you’ll learn all the pros and cons of keeping Ancona chickens. But, of course, when it comes to chickens, one woman’s pro is another woman’s con—so I’ve made sure to cover aaaalll the bases for you here.
You will learn the following:
The varieties of Ancona chickens (one is better for cold climates)
What Ancona chickens look like (don’t pretend you don’t care!)
Climate considerations for Ancona chickens (will they thrive in your hometown?)
Foraging, space, and predator considerations for Ancona chickens
Ancona temperament (are they right for you and your family?)
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Have Ancona chickens?
Ancona chicken facts
Category: Eggs
Origin: Italy
Egg-laying ability: Exceptional
Broodiness: Low
Meat production: Poor
Cold tolerance: Poor to good (depends on comb variety)
Heat tolerance: Exceptional
Predator evasion: Exceptional
Foraging ability: Exceptional
Toleration for confinement: Low
Temperament: Flighty, active
Aggression toward flock members: Low
Noise level: High
Origin of Ancona Chickens
The Ancona breed is an old breed. Named after the town of Ancona in Italy, these chickens have been bred for centuries in the Mediterranean region of the world. Like all Mediterranean breeds, Ancona chickens were bred for both phenomenal egg production and warm temperatures.
Unlike many other chicken breeds, modern Ancona chickens are very similar to their ancient counterparts. Keeping an Ancona chicken is like a lens to the past.
English chicken-keepers first imported Ancona chickens in 1850, and American chicken-keepers first imported Anconas in 1888. The breed became very popular in both countries.
Today, Ancona chickens are less popular than they once were. Ancona numbers are low enough that the Livestock Conservancy has placed the breed on its “Watch” list. However, many hatcheries are playing a role in conserving the breed by making the chickens easily available to backyard chicken keepers.
What do Ancona Chickens look like?
Ancona chickens are beautiful.
They come in two varieties: single comb and rose comb. Anconas of the single-comb variety can tolerate heat well. And Anconas of the rose-comb variety can tolerate the cold better. See more on this in the climate section below.
Watch the YouTube video below to see what single-comb Ancona hens and roosters look like. Note that the rooster in this video has a comb that flops over. Whereas this trait is the norm for Ancona hens, most roosters have a comb that stands straight up.
Ancona chickens also come in a bantam (i.e. miniature) form.
How big do Ancona chickens get?
Ancona chickens have a small and lean frame. Adult hens weigh around 4.5 lbs. Roosters weigh around 6 lbs.
What feather colors and patterns do Ancona chickens have?
Most commonly, Ancona chickens are black and white in color with a mottled pattern. The Ancona “black” has a dark green shimmer to it, particularly in the sunlight.
The mottling pattern results from some of the black feathers being tipped in white. The white tips are v-shaped, and tend to be evenly distributed across the body. Commonly, about 1/3 of the feathers are mottled, but mottling may occur on every 2nd to 6th feather.
Less commonly, Ancona chickens may be chocolate, blue, or red in color. All color varieties have the white tips that cause the mottled pattern. These alternative colors are newer additions to the breed that have been bred into the original black and white mottled birds.
Ancona chickens change color with every molt
Here’s something super interesting about Ancona feather colors. The ratio of white to black changes during the lifetimes of the birds. Many young Ancona chickens who haven’t gone through a major molt yet (i.e., they are less than 1 to 1.5 years old) will have a lot more white on their bodies. Some may have white chests and stomachs.
A quick search in chicken forums online will reveal many confused first-time Ancona chicken keepers asking of their juvenile bird, “Is this actually an Ancona?” Many of their growing chicks look more white than black and the mottling is minor. The answer: yes. Give them time. By the end of the year, they should look like a true Ancona.
After their first major molt, Ancona chickens will take on their typical black and white mottled appearance. But as the chickens age, the white tips on their feathers tend to become thicker with every molt. This means that they become whiter as they age.
So, they may be whiter when very young. Then they molt into mostly black, and then they get a bit whiter with every molt. Neat, right?
What is notable about Ancona chickens?
Aside from the mottled feather pattern, Anconas have unique combs and leg coloring.
The comb of single-comb Ancona chickens has 5 distinct points that stand upright on a rooster. The first point (the front point) stands up on a hen, but the other four points on the comb flop over. So adorable. Don’t you think?
Ancona chickens also may have mottling on their legs (shanks) and toes, which is not a common trait in chickens.
What do Ancona chicks look like?
Ancona chicks hatch with black and canary-yellow down feathers. They tend to be mostly black with yellow wings and bellies. You can see this in the video below
Ancona Chicken Growth
Ancona chicks grow faster than many other chicken breeds. However, because they are smaller than most other standard-sized chickens, some first-time Ancona keepers have worried that their chicks aren’t developing quickly enough. But they are. They’re just smaller birds.
Are you getting Ancona chicks?
Share your photos, week by week!
Ancona Chickens and Egg Laying
Egg color: White
Egg size: Medium-large
Age of lay: 5 months
Eggs/week: 4-6
Eggs/year: 220-300
Ancona chickens are generally exceptional egg layers. However, some modern Ancona breeders are breeding for show qualities in their birds, which has reduced the egg production in some strains.
One thing is known for sure: Many Ancona hens lay well into the winter, unlike many other breeds of chickens. They are better winter layers than Leghorn chickens (which may be the most productive egg-laying breed).
Ancona chickens also tend to start laying earlier than most other breeds. They often lay at 5 months, whereas most other breeds take 6-8 months.
Broodiness: Do Ancona hens want to hatch their eggs?
Ancona hens don’t get broody (i.e., sit on their eggs and hatch chicks). Anconas were bred to be egg-producing machines, which means the broody trait has been mostly eliminated.
Ancona chickens: A hardy breed
How do Ancona chickens do in the heat?
Ancona chickens tolerate the heat very well, as all Mediterranean breeds do. Ancona chickens have medium-large-sized combs. Hens have medium-sized wattles and males have long wattles. These larger-than-average combs and wattles help the chickens release heat during hot days, cooling them down.
The single-comb variety of Ancona chickens should theoretically do better in the heat than the rose-comb variety (larger comb that extends off of the head), but both varieties seem to do very well compared to most other breeds.
How do Ancona chickens do in the cold?
Rose-comb Ancona chickens are amazing in harsh, cold climates. They tolerate the cold much more than other Mediterranean breeds. Breeders likely developed the rose-comb variety for these colder climates.
Although single-comb Anconas do survive very cold winters, their tall combs are susceptible to frostbite. One chicken keeper from Wisconsin said that her Anconas’ combs “take a beating” in the cold Wisconsin winters. Frostbite is a serious problem, and a very painful one for chickens. Do single-comb Anconas a favor, and leave them out of frigid climates.
Rose combs, on the other hand, are smaller in size and fit more closely against the head. The rose-comb variety of Ancona is, therefore, a much better choice for very cold climates.
Ancona chickens gained popularity in the 1800s because they were able to survive on the open range in both wet and windy conditions, whereas many other breeds could not. This is truly an amazing chicken.
However, you may still need to keep an eye on Ancona wattles in the winter, even with the rose-combed variety. Be very vigilant of your roosters’ wattles. Wattle frostbite can be excruciating for chickens when it happens, so make sure your Anconas’ wattles are staying dry. If your chickens drink out of a bowl of water, sometimes their wattles can dip in and get wet—in the winter, this makes them ripe for frostbite.
And no matter which variety of Ancona you get, you’ll definitely want to consider hanging Sweeter Heaters over your roosting bars. You can find small Sweeter Heaters here on Amazon, medium Sweeter Heaters here, and large Sweeter Heaters here. I hang Sweeter Heaters in all my coops, even for my cold hardy breeds, and I can’t recommend them enough.
Ancona chickens vs. predators
If you have a lot of predators in your area, Ancona chickens may be a good choice for you because they are very capable of evasion.
Ancona chickens are alert, flighty, and fast. They are incredibly vigilant. Unlike many breeds, they can fly, which is an invaluable trait for escape. However, this also means that they are a hard breed to fence. You’ll need tall fences to keep them contained.
And they’re noisy, so if one bird is upset by a predator sighting, all the others will hear about it.
One suggestion here. If you have lots of predators in your area, consider the rose-comb variety rather than the single-comb variety of Ancona. The single comb flops over on Ancona hens, and this partially obstructs their view out of one eye. Rose combs don’t cause this problem.
Ancona chickens: Expert foragers
Ancona chickens are also recommended for homesteaders because they will save you on feed relative to other breeds of chickens. They love to forage. They range long distances in comparison to other breeds. And much of their daily feed comes from foraging if they are given the opportunity.
Ancona chickens: Not made for confinement
The Livestock Conservancy describes Anconas as “a bit wild in their habits.” These are lovers of nature and adventure. They are inquisitive. They love to roam. They like to fly to escape harm. And they are generally nervous birds that may feel trapped in small spaces. Confinement is not kind for this breed.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t keep them in a backyard. It does mean you can’t keep them in a small backyard.
Additionally, because these chickens can fly, they are known to escape yards. One chicken keeper said her Ancona hens can fly a 6-foot fence even with their wings clipped (although she admits she may not have clipped them correctly).
Others have said that their Ancona chickens are also excellent at climbing. They will actually climb up chicken wire or hardware wire with their feet. They claw their way up to the tops of wire fences, and if there is no top to the run, they’ll climb right over and escape.
And no, clipping their wings doesn’t stop this climbing behavior. However, adding a wire top to the run does keep the Anconas enclosed.
If you’re a backyard chicken keeper and you really want Anconas but you’re a little worried your yard may not be large enough, consider getting Ancona Bantams instead, if you can find them. They are, unfortunately, still rare in the United States.
In the video below, you can see a flock of Ancona Bantams.
Ancona chicken temperament:
Just what kind of birds are they?
Active. Alert. Flighty. Nervous. Hyper. High-strung. These words are commonly used to describe Ancona chickens.
Funny. Curious. Gentle. Sweet. You hear these words less often, and only from the more understanding and empathetic chicken keepers.
You either love your Anconas or you don’t. In one forum, a chicken keeper said of her Anconas, “Well, they are spazzy, ill-mannered, and kinda ugly in my opinion.” Another said of her Ancona hen, “She is the most comical, inquisitive and friendliest little bird, really love the Anconas.”
What it comes down to is this: Do you need calm or snuggly chickens? And can you love your chickens for who they are?
If you want a calm and snuggly chicken, Anconas wouldn’t be my go-to. Look elsewhere if this is a primary concern. (Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, and Australorps are a great place to start.)
You may be able to make your Ancona chickens calmer and more sociable if you handle them frequently from chicks onward. Some people have done this. But this will take work. Lap chicken is not in their nature.
But why not just appreciate Anconas for who they are? Let them be flighty. Let them be hyper. Let them be goofy. If you spend time with your Ancona hens, they will likely want to be around you. They probably won’t crawl in your lap, but they’ll like to be in your general area. This is what friendly means for chickens who don’t like to be touched. Take the compliment and leave them be.
And if your Ancona hens trust you, you will likely be able to get them to eat out of your hand, which is always fun.
How are Ancona chickens around children?
If you want birds to interact with your children, don’t get Ancona chickens. These chickens will be very stressed out if they are chased and harassed by children. And your kids will be stressed out that their chickens want nothing to do with them.
Ancona chickens, however, are not aggressive, so they are good around children in that sense.
How well do Ancona chickens get along with other chickens?
Ancona chickens tend to get along very well with other chickens. They are not particularly aggressive, and they enjoy being a part of a flock. They do well with mixed breeds.
Are Ancona roosters aggressive to people?
Any individual rooster of any breed can be aggressive (or, more often, defensive—yes, there’s a difference), but Ancona roosters certainly aren’t known for aggression. Ancona roosters, like hens, are flighty.
Ancona chickens: Are they noisy?
Ancona chickens will talk your ear off. They tend to be much noisier than other chickens. This doesn’t mean that they speak more loudly than other chickens, they just talk all the time.
I, for one, love chatty chickens. They are so often the goofiest. They react to everything. They have an opinion about everything, and they tell you about it. They have such personalities! Chickens can communicate a lot to you through their tone of voice. I do hope to add these chatty chickens to my flock in the future.
However, if you live in a densely populated area and have cranky neighbors, Anconas may not be the right choice for you.
Ancona chicken health problems and life expectancy
Ancona chickens aren’t known to have any health problems unique to them. In an ideal environment, Ancona chickens can live 8 years or more.
Ancona chickens vs. other breeds
Breeds that look similar to Ancona chickens
Breeds that look similar to Ancona chicks include Mottled Java chickens and Exchequer Leghorns (pictured here). However, Mottled Javas look very different from Anconas as adults, aside from their beautiful plumage. They are dual purpose birds, so they are much larger. They have upright single combs, and very different personalities (they are sweethearts!).
Adult Exchequer Leghorns have a lot more white on their feathers than do Ancona chickens. Ideally, Exchequer Leghorns should have black and white equally distributed. They also have white as the under-color on their feathers, whereas Anconas have black as the under-color.
Exchequer Leghorns are also slightly smaller than Anconas. They weigh in at 5 lbs for roosters and 3.5 lbs for hens, whereas Anconas weigh in at 6 lbs for roosters and 4.5 lbs for hens.
Aside from their differences in coloring and size, Exchequer Leghorns are similar to Ancona chickens in most ways.
To learn more about these breeds, check out my articles:
Ancona chickens vs. Leghorns
In fact, all varieties of Leghorns are similar to Ancona chickens in most ways. Anconas are even sometimes incorrectly called Mottled Leghorns.
There are a few important differences between the two breeds. Leghorns lay more eggs than Anconas, but Anconas lay more eggs during the winter than Leghorns.
Ancona chickens, especially the rose-comb variety, are much hardier birds than Leghorn chickens. They can thrive in much lower temperatures or rougher weather conditions. They are also flightier than Leghorns, although both breeds are flighty.
To learn more about Leghorns, check out my article, Leghorn chickens: stunning egg laying fowl that come in every color.
Other hardy egg-laying breeds
If you’re interested in hardy egg-laying breeds, you’ll also want to consider Appenzeller Spitzhaubens, Brabanters, and Rhode Island Reds.
You can learn about these breeds here:
Appenzeller Spitzhauben chickens: An egg laying breed that thrives in the cold
Brabanter chickens: A rare and goofy egg-laying breed for cold climates