Category:Minorca Chicken

Varieties:


 * Single Comb Black
 * Rose Comb Black
 * Single Comb White
 * Rose Comb White
 * Single Comb Buff

Standard Weights: Single Comb Black: Cock-9 pounds; hen 7-1/2 pounds; cockerel-7-1/2 pounds; pullet-6-1/2 pounds. All others: Cock-8 pounds; hen-6-1/2 pounds; cockerel-6-1/2 pounds; pullet-5-1/2 pounds.

Skin Color: White.

Egg Shell Color: White.

Use: Developed for the production of very large chalk-white eggs, the Minorca is today principally an exhibition fowl.

Origin: Developed in the Mediterranean area where they take their name from an island off the coast of Spain. Development may have been as an offshoot of the Spanish breed.

Characteristics: The largest of the Mediterranean breeds, they are long, angular birds that appear larger than they are. They have long tai Is, large wide feathers closely held to narrow bodies. Minorcas have relatively large combs and wattles. Good Minorcas are stately, impressive birds and can give a fair return in eggs, although in recent years they have not been intensively selected for that purpose. They are rather poor meat fowl because of their narrow angular bodies and slow growth. Minorcas rarely go broody, are very alert and fairly good foragers.