Minorca

A Minorca hen poses in front of a beige background. Her large comb hangs over her face.

Minorcas are also called the "Red Faced Black Chicken", and to look at it it's no wonder why. They have red faces, huge red wattles and large red combs. Their earlobes are also large, but white. Minorcas are the heaviest of the Mediterranean chicken breeds and while they were originally bred to produce large white eggs, breeders today don't always select for those traits. Therefore some of today's Minorcas won't lay as well as the originals.

 

Origins/History:

Class: Mediterranean
Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
Size: Heavy (7-8 lbs)
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Egg-laying
Recognized Varieties: Single Comb Black, Rose Comb Black, Single Comb White, Rose Comb White, Single Comb Buff

Egg Facts:

Egg Laying: Very Good (4/wk)
Egg Color: White
Egg Size: X-Large

Fancy Features:

Comb Type: Depends on Variety
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: No
Number of Toes: 4

Suitability to Backyard Life:

Cold Hardiness: Not cold hardy
Heat Tolerance: Tolerates heat well
Bears Confinement: Tolerates confinement
Especially Docile: No
Setter/Broody: No
Personality: Type A