Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1914-07-03

continually on the outlook for the bird
which will produce the greatest result,
from the standpoint of profit Man
poultrymen have long had their weathaI
eye on the AncOna, a member of H.
mediterranean class of fowls birds thai
are Iast coming into prominence as an
egg producing breed and are gradually
out surely forcing themselves into non
uiarlty among those breeders who are
given over to producing eggs for com
mercial purposes.
II IS possible to force most any breed
OF fowls into prominence, but to gain
= real popularity, they must have such
qualities as to enable them to win and
nold their way. The latter is a fact in
deed true of the Ancona. This breed
mas not during any period been a parti
GUAR 1avorlte with the average breeder
put It's egg producing qualities are such
that they are making the commercial
SgS prouucer SIT up and take notice
While many have already adODted them
many otners are studying their merits
WIN view to taking hold of this breed.
Inc Anconas were introduced into
this country in about 1890. but for
several years following this. little or
nothing was heard of them. 1t is true
they were seen in the show room and
occasionally took the eye of someone
who adopted them mainly upon the
personal recommendation of the exhj |
Ditor, rather than his knowledge of the |
bird '''
This sort of expansion keep up for
quite a while until sufficient persons
were engaged in breeding the Ancona
as would permit the organization of a
! specially club. The Ancona Club of
America was formed, and the breed was
admitted to the Standard of Perfection
in 1895. From this time on the Ancona
! has been exhibited extensively at poultry
shows and the stock took boost which
has never deprecated on the poultry
market. Today they are classed among
the so-called egg machines of the
poultry world. The period over which {
the AncOna took the big jump from an
almost unknown fowl to one of the most
prominent as an egg producer, can be
said to have been within the past five
years. '
Today the Ancona is not only bird I
which is well up in the front ranks from i
a commercial standpoint, but is one to v
be seen in large numbers in the show G
rooms and is fast becoming a favorite
among practical breeders.
The Ancona is native of Italy and is a
classed with those of the Mediterranean &
class. 1t is an utter impOssibility to
determine the date of their origin as 5
they have been bred for many genera n
tiOns in tho r-ovince of AncOna on the X
East coast of the peninsula and from e
which province they take their name. d.
We have many breeds of birds, and Il
good ones too, that are made made &
Draanc - h11f cr1ah h. iii
the AncOna. 1t is not a made breed
N any sense of the word. They are
different from all other
breeds and breed true in all character
sites without double mating. If there
we're ever crosses used in making the T.,
)reed, no one has ever been able to learn on
# it and it is so remote as to be I'M wi
raceable. Even in the lack of know ev
edge, many claim that the breed was III
made, but this is doubtful. en-
The Ancona is fundamentally an egg m
reed, and when | say this, | mean Oh,
very word of it. They are layers of gr
lrge white eggs. the kind that is so de- en- en-
irable in most markets. The bird will mi
at comparatively less than most any arr
Their breeds, save possibly the Houdans, or,
nd will therefore produce eggs at a eav
luch lower cost than any of the other cor
)-called egg breeds. am
In appearance the AncOna is a very ST,
retty fowl. The plumage is black, rer
it'll a beetle-green lustre and fiecked in
with pure white on the tips anr
about every fifth feather. The aw,
setle-green lustre is quite pronounced mo
the malebirds. The comb and wattes oir
e brightred. They have yellow skin, Sea
hite or creamy ear lObes and yellow cen
gs which are sometimes notified stri
At maturity the hens will weigh mar
out six pounds each, while the cock at
rds will run seven pounds. The chicks he
e as a rule vigorous and healthy and Ian
velop very rapidly. 1t is not an I'M he
mmon thing to have the pullets begin lac,
ing at four months of age while of Z
arly all of them will begin when five rino
,nths old. NH
Being hardly, the brood is profitable eff
keep in all climates many commercial III
9 producers throughout the Northern of A
ltes and even in Canada have adopt nrdg
them for this purpose. lose
The AncOna, the Notified AncOna, and
It's all. There are no questions to roe
answered as to which kind of Ancona men
! breed, there is but one style, and ri
has ever been made to pro- Will
e the bird in a variety of cOlOrs. the /
ey are so good that nothing would be Is
ned IN producing any otner Kihd they Day
now as good as the other best if and