Minorca Chickens

Breed Rating (4 Reviews)

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Friendliness
Hardiness
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Garden

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Minorca History

Originally called the Red Faced Black Spanish, the Minorca is the largest and heaviest of the Mediterranean breeds. It originates from Spain in the 1780s and is named after the island of Minorca. The breed was only really popular as an egg producer until the 1900s in the south west of Britain but was exhibited at the Crystal Palace show in 1888 where it was rated very highly. They were also a particular favourite of T.E.Lawrence, otherwise known as Lawrence of Arabia. Today, the breed is kept mainly for exhibition purposes but they are also producers of very large eggs. Their appearance is striking with their long, strong bodies, full tails, upright red combs and wattles and white ear lobes. Black is the most popular colour variety and there is also a rosecomb version. They are very long birds with narrow bodies and are not good as table fowl. Minorcas are also available in a bantam single combed form which originates from Germany and Britain in around 1910.

Minorca Behaviour

The Minorca thrives on human contact and has a wonderful temperament. They can be flighty and can actually reach distances of 2m so care needs to be taken with boundaries. They prefer to free range as they are excellent foragers and make perfect farmyard fowls but will adapt to confinement and would also be well suited to a suburban setting. They do not tend to go broody and lay very large, white shelled eggs all year round, especially during the winter months. They are usually hardy birds but their large combs are prone to frostbite, however, they are also very tolerant of hot weather and prefer dry conditions. Males weigh around 8 lbs while the females are 6 ½ lbs in weight.

Minorca Varieties

Black – single comb and rose comb, White – single comb and rose comb, Blue – single comb.

Minorca Status

Rare

Minorca Pictures

Minorca For Sale

Please note: All animals listed here are for collection only. They cannot be delivered by the seller or by Omlet. The seller will send you their contact details to arrange payment and collection.

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Latest Reviews For Minorca (4 of 4)

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Based on 4 Verified Reviews

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Three birds - Jamsher, 24 March 2019

Give me three birds

Incredible Chickens - Libby, 2 September 2015

Minorcas are the most fantastic chickens. Not only are they beautiful, majestic birds but it seems they almost have nine lives. Our last one, Cheeky, lived to the ripe old age of ten and was so friendly and a great mother figure to our ex-batts right until her last days, They aren't easy for beginners as they are quite flighty (Ours lived in a tree for 2 years!) and they certainly do not take well to being confined. But they are incredibly hardy bird and a real joy to keep.

- Sally, 16 June 2011

Our black Minorcas are pretty much the best birds we have. Large white eggs laid 9 months of the year, 6 days out of 7. They don't like being picked up/handled, but are happy to eat out of your hand. They don't like being confined and are therefore happiest free ranging or in large enclosures.

Handsome birds, nervy, large eggs - Casasa, 8 February 2010

I love my Minorcas, they're so handsome, glossy black feathers with large red combs & white ear lobes. They're quite nervous birds, significantly less tame than other breeds. They're quite strong fliers & I've found them keen on tree-roosting. I have a Utility strain of them, & have found that they're quite respectable layers of large white eggs.

Breeder Clubs for Minorca

Minorca Club

Email: robfirebird@googlemail.com

Website: www.poultryclub.org/minorcaclub/

Telephone: 07767 237840