- Purpose:Ornamental and Eggs
- Eggs:White
- Egg Size:Extra Large
- Color:Black, White, Buff, Blue, Bared
- Comb Type:Large Single or Rose Comb
The largest and heaviest of all the Mediterranean chickens, the Minorca hails from the Spanish Island of—you guessed it— Minorca.
With a huge red comb effortlessly thrown over their head, glossy plumage rippling in the breeze, and their characteristic white earlobes swinging like a set of abalone earrings, these birds look like they’re on spring break year-round. Unlike a vacationer, though, these birds are hard workers, producing large eggs at a surprising rate.
The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens
还在考虑下一群鸡吗?
Quit searching around the internet and take a look at our complete course to Raising Chickens.
Our instructor Wren gives you 22 key lessons over nearly 3 hours of videos coveringeverything you need to know to get started with your first flock, caring for chickens, keeping them healthy, diagnosing problems, and more.
Characteristics
True to their island roots, the Minorca thrive in warm, sunny environments. The single- combed variety also has huge wattles—features that allow their blood to circulate andcool in hot temperatures, making them a safe choice for farms and homesteads in hot climates.
The large comb, wattles, and earlobes on a Minorca are a frostbite magnet, so this breed is apoor choice for cold climates. The rose-comb Minorca variety is a little less prone to frostbite, but no Minorca is able to stand much cold. They love to forage, are hardy and tough-natured, and are adaptable to either free-range or confined environments.
虽然米诺卡鲸能飞——它们的翅膀在跳跃时确实给了它们很大的推力——但它们机敏、活跃,很喜欢看它们在院子里疾跑。Their size can be quite a boon, too—some keepers have reported that hawks and other predatory birds leave Minorcas alone because oftheir intimidating size.
虽然谷歌搜索通常会显示一个大的,单梳子和黑色羽毛的米诺卡鸟,这些鸟充满了更多的种类。它们可以被发现与玫瑰梳以及可能显示蓝色,裸露,黑色,白色,或浅黄色羽毛。In any case, however, thosedistinctive, dangling earlobes会在那里,像一副华丽的耳环一样摇摆。
What’s The Yield?
Though Minorca chickens are large, they are egg-layers. Some who have sampled their meat report that it is dry and stringy. Additionally, it will take these heritage birds a while to reach their full size. So, with their slow growth and relatively narrow body, the Minorca doesn’t make the best meat bird.
Though males reach 9 pounds and females reach 7.5 pounds, a chunkyCornishorSussexmay be a better choice if you’re looking for something to fill the table and your belly. If you are up for the challenge of cooking one of these fabulous chickens, the traditional method of cooking their breast meat was tostuff them with lard. It may be tasty, but it is hardly a healthy choice!
Once a fabulous layer of large white eggs, selective breeding has lowered the average Minorcans productivity. Some utility strains still retain their original productive characteristics, while others may come from strains bredmore for fancy earlobesthan plentiful eggs. If you can find a good egg-laying Minorca hen, however, she’ll repay your loving care with an impressivefour, extra-large, white eggsa week.
Minorca Facts
It’s easy to mix these birds with theWhite-Faced Black Spanishbreed at a quick glance. The key to distinguishing between them is the eyes. Minorcas—also sometimes called Red-Faced Black Chickens—have red skin surrounding their eyes, and White-Faced Black Spanish have white surrounding their eyes.
Photos of Minorca Chickens
Resources
- 5 Reasons To Love Minorca Chickens, Backyard Chicken Coops
- Minorca, My Pet Chicken
- Poultry Breeds – Minorca Chickens, Oklahoma State University Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science
- Minorca Chicken, The Livestock Conservancy
- Minorca, Backyard Chickens
- Minorca Chicken Characteristics & Breed Information, Roy’s Farm
- Minorca Chickens, Poultry Keeper
- Minorca Chicken Breed, The Way Of The Chickens
- Minorca Chickens, Hobby Farms
- Minorcas, Feathersite