HISTORY OF ANCONAS 
43 
them. Four of my Winning Rose Comb 
Pullets laid 904 eggs in their pullet 
year. I think this fully answers the 
question, can utility and fancy be com¬ 
bined. Most emphaticary yes as ap¬ 
plied to Anconas, perhaps more so 
than any other breed. Another de¬ 
cided advantage with Anconas 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 several 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 cock breeding pens the pullets 
often look wasters, and vice-versa. An- 
conas stand at a distinct advantage in 
this respect. 
I believe Rose Comb Anconas were 
introduced by Mr. Chance of Birming¬ 
ham in 1901. This variety was ex¬ 
hibited at the Dairy Show in 1902. 
Thos. Nicholson: The reason I took 
up Anconas years ago, was because 
I was a fancier as well as a utilitarian, 
and with Anconas I could obtain an 
abundance of eggs at a low cost of pro¬ 
duction, and exhibit and win with the 
same birds. Anconas are wonderful 
foragers, and if at liberty will find the 
greater part of their food; at the same 
time they are ideal fowls for intensive 
systems, as they rarely get too fat 
when confined. 
For years I kept my Anconas in a 
London back garden, and even under 
these conditions the birds always gave 
a good account of themselves, the 
cockerels being very precocious, and 
he pullets often lay ng at 4y 2 months. 
Further, I have always been very suc¬ 
cessful in hatching and rearing from 
intensively kept Anconas, and no 
doubt the hardiness and activity of the 
birds was the reason for this. 
An Ancona hen will remain profitable 
for upwards of six years. I have had 
200-egg average from Ancona hens in 
their fourth year. 
E. F. Hurt: The Ancona, being a 
long-established pure breed, offers no 
difficulties to the novice who wishes 
to breed birds true to type, with a 
minimum of culls in his utility stock. 
Anconas having a bi-colored plumage, 
offers greater distinction in the show 
pen than a breed of one color, where 
the difference between the winner and 
the worst bird may be a mere shade 
of color that no novice can distinguish. 
Anconas are undoubtedly the hardi¬ 
est of all breeds. Originating in Italy, 
where the climate varies from the hot, 
sub-tropical to many degrees below 
zero, they have an innate ability to 
withstand all climates, and the best 
breeders in this country have recog¬ 
nized this and have not pampered their 
stock. We make a point not only of 
rear'ng o^r b'rds :'n the open hills, but 
of allowing the young stock to sleep 
out in the trees from May to Novem¬ 
ber. Of the two varietie s of Anconas 
the rose combs are the most hardy, 
having the advantage of a comb that 
is not affected by the severest frost or 
damp. 
Anconas may be kept where you like, 
and almost how you like, with reason¬ 
able precautions for sanitation and 
ventilation. They do equally well in- 
tensivelv, semi-intensively, or on free 
range, though, under the latter condi¬ 
tions they are in their true element 
and will pick up more than half the 
food they require. 
No special feeding is necessary, as 
Anconas are exceptionally hardy and 
need no pampering. The main point 
to be observed is not to overfeed. The 
only critical time, as with other light 
breeds, is at two to three weeks old, 
when they are feathering their wings. 
At this time they should have pin-head 
