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Minorca Long before there were breeds, and breed
standards, black chickens with white earlobes that laid
large white eggs were common in many parts of Spain. It is not entirely clear how
these chickens first got there. Some authorities assume that they were brought north by the Arabs during their
700-year stay in Spain.
Much later, in the late 18th or early 19th century, some of these black Spanish fowl found their way to England, possibly from the island of Menorca, which was then under British rule. Thus the Minorca may have got its name. The stately birds quickly attracted the attention of English poultry fanciers who developed them into the breed we know today.
Now sadly fallen out of favour, the Minorca urgently needs more dedicated breeders! |
Others point out that much earlier the Roman
writer Columella, who was originally from modern-day Cadiz in the south of
Spain, describes chickens of that type in his work on agriculture, "De Re
Rustica", published in 47A.D. We do know that Queen Isabel of Castilla (1451 -
1504) was particularly fond of these black fowl; and it is also believed
that these may have been the kind of chickens Columbus took with him to the new
world. 
The Minorca is the largest of the Mediterranean
breeds of chicken, with fully grown roosters weighing up to 4kg. The
blacks with the large single combs are the original variety, though white,
buff and rose combed ones were later also developed. Minorcas are hardy,
active birds and great foragers on free range. Traditionally famed for
their egg-laying capacity, they can produce up to 180 large or extra
large eggs per year. They mature early and are quite good winter
layers under favourable conditions. And while they don't have the
conformation of a meat breed, the young cockerels make very fine eating
nonetheless!© 2004 Quennell Lake Poultry