Ancona
Egg layerItaly
Named for the Italian port city of Ancona, this speckled black-and-white layer is a tireless forager that would rather find its own dinner than wait at the feeder. Anconas lay generously and eat modestly, but they're quick, watchful birds that don't love being handled.
Eggs per year
220–280
Egg color
White
Egg size
Medium
Hen weight
4–5 lbs
Temperament
Active and alert
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
An Ancona's white feather tips get larger with each molt, so older birds look noticeably more speckled than pullets.
Ancona egg production
Expect roughly 220–280 white eggs a year from a Ancona in her prime — about 4–5 a week, or 18–23 dozen over the course of a year. That puts it among the more prolific backyard layers. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Ancona is generally described as active and alert. They tend to be active, alert foragers that would rather be busy in the run than sitting in your lap, so give them space and things to do.
Climate & care
The Ancona isn't especially cold-hardy, so in cold-winter regions give it a well-insulated, draft-free coop and take extra care to prevent frostbite. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
Anconahens rarely go broody, which keeps the eggs coming but means they won't usually raise their own chicks. To hatch, you'll want an incubator — our incubation calculator tracks every step.
Space & feeding
A Ancona hen is a medium-sized bird at 4–5 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Ancona right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You keep chickens in a hot climate
Think twice if…
- You want the most low-maintenance possible first bird
- You face long, hard winters
- You want a lap chicken that loves being handled
Ancona FAQ
- How many eggs do Ancona chickens lay?
- A healthy Ancona hen lays about 220–280 white eggs a year — roughly 4–5 a week, or 18–23 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Anconas lay?
- Anconas lay white eggs, medium in size.
- How big do Ancona chickens get?
- A Ancona hen weighs roughly 4–5 lbs — a medium-sized bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Anconas cold-hardy?
- Not especially. The Ancona does best in mild or warm climates; in cold-winter regions it needs an insulated, draft-free coop and extra care against frostbite.
- Are Anconas good for beginners?
- The Ancona is active and alert and tends to suit keepers with a little experience more than absolute beginners.
- Do Ancona hens go broody?
- Rarely. Ancona hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
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