The following appreciation of Anconas was written in 1913 by William 

 E. Barber, England's well-known Ancona breeder dnd judge. 



During the past twelve months I am pleased to be able to record a 

 quite decided advance in the popularity of the breed. For many years I 

 have been surprised that the sterling qualities of the Ancona have not been 

 recognized as they merited, but this is being rapidly changed. They are 

 a breed that do not want booming; they simply want knowing to be ap- 

 preciated. As an egg producer I find them second to none, and in the 

 coldest winter months, if hatched at right time, will lay almost as regularly 

 as in the summer. Like any other breed, light or heavy, if in confined 

 quarters they must be given work, for they delight in scratching and seek- 

 ing for their food. 



They have the advantage over most breeds in maturing quickly, pul- 

 lets often laying at the age of 18 to 20 weeks' old. This is a most decided 

 advantage, as chicks may be hatched as late as the month of May and 

 still be in full lay in November, to continue right through the winter. 

 The eggs of pullets from the start are sizeable, while those laid by yearling 

 hens rival the Minorca or Andalusian. This is not all; half a dozen active 

 Anconas may be kept in full lay on a quantity of corn that would feed 

 only three or four Orpingtons or other heavy breed, whilst on a free range 

 they are such excellent foragers that during the summer months at least, a 

 very small morning and evening meal will keep them fit and laying. They 

 are, therefore, in my opinion the ideal egg producer for the farmer or the 

 backyard fancier. Added to this, any fancier will admit they are one of 

 the prettiest breeds we have. Of the Rose Comb Ancona I can speak 

 even more highly as an egg producer. They are equally as good summer 

 or winter; even in the most severe weather nothing seems to check them. 

 Four of my winning Rose Comb pullets laid 904 eggs in their pullet year of 

 1912. I think this fully answers the question, can Utility and Fancy be 

 combined? Most emphatically yes, as applied to the Ancona, perhaps 

 more So than any other breed. Our standard contains no extravagant 

 points to breed to, and is framed so that our ideal bird is, and looks a 

 layer. Another decided advantage with our breed is that it requires only 

 one pen to produce exhibition specimens of both sexes. 



There is not the slightest doubt that the fall from popularity of many 

 of our most useful breeds is the evil of the double mating system, that is 

 to say, two pens are required to breed cockerels and pullets for exhibition. 

 From the cock breeding pens the pullets often look wasters, and vice-versa. 

 Our breed therefore, stands at a distinct advantage again in this respect. 



Some fanciers have experimented with the cock-breeding pen, making 

 progress up to a certain point, I will admit, but the pullets have, on the 

 other hand, showed a decided falling off in quality. The cockerels have 

 eventually got too dark and short of tipping. It is much to be deprecated 

 and for my part I think it will be much to the advantage to both our 

 breed and Club to stick to the single mating system. We are progressing 

 admirably- Our birds are yearly getting nearer to the standard we have 

 set up. We have got far from the bird that was evenly splashed all over 

 black and white, and are now producing a bird sound in under color, and 

 are also getting nearer to the V-shaped tipping. The ideal bird has not 

 yet arrived, but we have made substantial progress since the standard 

 was formulated. Finally let me say, to any Fancier who wishes to com- 

 bine Fancy and Utility— "Try Anconas." 



