Origin:   Italy

Category:  Softfeather Light

Egg Colour:  White

Sitter:  No

This breed takes its name from the City of Ancona, a port in Italy, from which the first Anconas were shipped to England, where they were first exhibited under this name in the middle of the last century. That Anconas originated from crosses of Italian fowl common in Central Italy is evident by their close resemblance in type and size to the Leghorn breed. Anconas are excellent layers of white eggs; non-sitters and with yellow skin.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

THE MALE

Head. Skull moderately long, deep, and inclined to width. Beak of medium length and moderate curve. Eyes prominent. Comb (a) single or (6) rose : (a) upright, of medium size, with deep serrations and five to seven spikes (broad at their base), the outline forming a regular convex curve, the back following the line of the head, free from "thumb marks" or side spikes ; (b) medium size, low and square front, tapering towards the leader (which should follow the curve of the neck and not be straight out or upwards), the top covered with small coral-like points of even height, and free from hollows. Face smooth. Earlobes inclined to almond shape, of medium size, and free from folds. Wattles long and fine.

Neck long, profusely covered with hackle.

Body moderately long with close and compact plumage ; broad shoulders and narrow saddle ; full round breast carried upwards ; large wings well tucked up ; full tail carried well out.

Legs moderately long. Thighs well apart and almost hidden by the body feathering. Shanks and Feet free from feathers. Toes (four) rather thin, well spread.

Carriage upright, bold and active.

The Female

With the exception of the single comb, which falls with a single fold and partly hides one side of the face, the general characteristics are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences.

COLOUR

In Australia Anconas are standardised in three colours, the original which has a black base, the red, and the blue is expected to be included in the next standards publication.

Black (original variety)

• Beak yellow shaded with black or horn, preferably not wholly yellow.

• Eyes orange-red with hazel pupil.

• Comb, Face and Wattles bright red, the face free from white.

• Earlobes white.

• Legs and Feet yellow mottled with black.

• Plumage beetle-green with white tippings (the latter free from black or grey streaks), the more evenly V-tipped throughout with white the better, but tipped and not laced or splashed.

• Undercolour black. All the feathers should be black to the roots, with beetle-green surface, and only the tips white.

Red 

• Plumage: each feather tipped with a distinct 'V' white tip, a narrow black bar separating the white from the remainder of feather. Head, neck, back, saddle, breast and body: ground colour chestnut to red bay. Male to show greater lusture on head, neck, back, saddle and tail. Overall ground colour as even as possible with minimal black.

• Tail: black. Wings: fronts, bows and coverts coloured as the back. 

• Wings: Primaries - bay with some black permissable. Secondaries: outer web chestnut to red bay, inner web black. 

• Undercolour: red and slate. 

• In both sexes: comb, face, wattles, lobes and eyes as for the Black variety. Beak: yellow with black or horn. A wholly yellow beak not desirable. Legs and feet: yellow, evenly mottled with bay or chestnut, some black acceptable. 

Blue

• The Blue Ancona is similar to the original with the black being replaced by blue. In male: darker blue top colour. In the female: darker blue hackle. 

• Both sexes: Beak: yellow with horn shadings. Eyes: orange-red. Comb, face & wattles: bright red. Ear lobes - white. Legs and feet: yellow, mottled with black or slate, the more evenly mottled the better. 

SERIOUS DEFECTS

• White in face ;

• Red ear lobes ;

• White or light undercolour ;

• Plumage other than black and white ;

• Male bird's comb twisted, trimmed, having side sprigs or falling to either side ;

• Feathers on shanks or feet ;

• In the Black - any colour other than black or white ;

• In the Red - excessive black in the plumage, except where black is described as required ;

• Any deformity.

SCALE OF POINTS

• Skull, beak, neck, face and eyes: 12

• Comb, lobes and wattles: 10

• Tail: 5

• Legs and feet: 3

• Type and carriage: 25

• Tightness and density of feathers: 10

• Colour, plumage, beak, eyes, face, lobes, legs and feet: 25

• Condition and size: 10

APPROXIMATE WEIGHTS

These are taken from the American Standard and are only a guide.

• Cock 6 lbs (2.7kg) 

• Hen 4 1/2 lbs (2kg)

• Cockerel 5 lbs (2.3kg) 

• Pullet 4 lbs (1.8kg)

BPS 1923 gives weights as:

• Male: 6lb to 7lb (2.7kg to 3.2kg)

• Female: 5lb to 6lb (2.3kg to 2.7kg)

Bantam weights to be approximately one third of standard weights.

SOURCES

• McGrew, T. F. 1850-1930. (1921). The book of poultry. New York: The Macmillan Company.

• The American standard of perfection, illustrated. A complete description of recognized varieties of fowls, as revised by [the Association at its 62d-67th annual meetings, 1937-42.] Public Domain accessed from: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009169004

• https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009202629 The Poultry club standards, containing a complete description of all the recognised varieties of fowls, ducks, geese and turkeys, ed. by William W. Broomhead.

• Selby, I. (Comp.). (2013). New Zealand poultry standards (3rd ed.). PoultryNZ. 

Updated: 10/06/2026