The Ancona chicken breed originates from the Ancona region of Italy, and they were bred from a number of other breeds including Leghorns. The Ancona is noted for its attractive plumage. The feathers are black with a beetle-green shine and white tips, and this black coloring is why they are sometimes called Black Leghorns.

The Ancona is a breed that is often prized at poultry shows. There are two varieties of this breed, one has a single comb and the other, less commonly, has a rose comb. At around 5 months old, the pullets begin laying eggs. Mature hens are prolific egg layers and produce around 250 white eggs per year. They do not have a tendency to go broody.

Ancona chickens are hardy birds and active, busy foragers that are ideally suited to a free range lifestyle. They have a friendly temperament but are not the easiest breed to handle, so not ideal for beginners. They are also flighty, so any enclosures should have high fencing. Mature males can weigh up to 2.9 kg, and the females 2.5 kg. There are also bantam sizes available.