Minorca chicken
The Minorca is a big Mediterranean layer known for some of the largest white eggs, with a huge comb and white lobes.
The Minorca is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Soft Feather Light class. Its origin is given as Menorca, Spain. It appears on the RBST Watchlist as a priority breed, so keepers of pure stock help conserve it.
It is kept in large and bantam forms. Recognised colours: Black, Blue, White. Typical adult weights: cock about 3.2–3.6 kg and hen about 2.7–3.2 kg.
Expect roughly 170–220 eggs a year, with white shells. It is mainly kept for eggs and for exhibition or as an ornamental bird.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, rbst.org.uk, poultrykeeper.com, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Soft Feather Light
- Origin
- Menorca, Spain
- Kept for
- Eggs, Exhibition or ornamental
History
Breeders shaped it from birds from Menorca, probably during and after the British occupation (1708–1783). Imports to Britain are documented in the 1780s. By the late 1800s it was well established in Devon and Cornwall. America admitted it in 1888.
Appearance
Black (greenish sheen), Blue and White. Large comb and white earlobes.
Recognised colours
Black, Blue, White
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
- Cock
- 3.2–3.6 kg
- Hen
- 2.7–3.2 kg
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 170–220
- Egg colour
- White
- Notes
- Poultrykeeper gives 170–220 very large white eggs.
Temperament
- Keeping notes
- Forages well and is rarely bothered by aerial predators. It is hardy, but its comb can suffer frostbite.
Hardiness
Hardy (comb prone to frostbite)
Broodiness
Not usually broody
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- Not usually broody.
Conservation status (RBST)
A priority breed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist.
Breed club
- The Minorca Club, breed-specific
Sources
This page is compiled from:
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