Are you looking for a unique and eye-catching addition to your backyard flock? If so, you may want to consider adding a black chicken breed to your coop. They are striking and have several benefits, such as increased egg production and hardiness.
In this guide, we’ll introduce you to some of the most popular black chicken breeds and provide information on their physical characteristics, temperament, egg-laying abilities, and more. By the end of this article, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to choose the perfect black chicken breed for your flock.
What is a black chicken?
Black chicken is a term used to describe several different chicken breeds with black coloring in their feathers and skin. This unique coloring is due to a genetic mutation that affects melanin production, the pigment responsible for feather and skin color. Black chicken breeds come in various sizes, shapes, and temperaments, making them a fascinating and diverse addition to any backyard flock.
Some popular black chicken breeds include the Ayam Cemani, Black Australorp, and Jersey Giant. The Ayam Cemani is perhaps the most unique black chicken breed, with its entirely black feathers, skin, and internal organs. This breed is hardy, disease-resistant, and known for its excellent egg-laying abilities. The Black Australorp is a hardy and adaptable breed entirely black and known for its glossy black coat. The Jersey Giant is the largest black chicken breed, with a glossy black coat that is both beautiful and practical.
Black chicken breeds can be bred selectively to achieve certain desirable traits, such as hardiness, disease resistance, and egg-laying abilities. This can help create lines of chickens with beautiful black coloring and other desirable qualities.
Black chickens are a fascinating and unique addition to any backyard flock. Whether you are drawn to the striking appearance of the Ayam Cemani or the hardiness and adaptability of the Black Australorp, these birds are sure to be a fascinating and rewarding addition to your flock.
18 popular black chicken breeds.
Get ready to be introduced to the world of black chicken breeds! From entirely black feathers to glossy black coats and unique appearances, these breeds will surely add striking beauty to any backyard flock.
The Ayam Cemani takes black to the extreme with its entirely black appearance, while the Black Australorp and Ancona are known for their excellent egg-laying abilities.
The Jersey Giant and Cochin/Pekin are giant breeds that make an imposing addition to any coop, and the Kadaknath is famous for its unique appearance and high-quality meat.
Whether you’re looking for hardiness, disease resistance, or friendly temperaments, these black chicken breeds have it all!
1. Ayam Cemani
The Ayam Cemani is perhaps the most unique black chicken breed, with its entirely black feathers, beak, comb, and even internal organs. Originally from Indonesia, these birds have a reputation for being hardy and resistant to disease and for their striking appearance. While they may be a bit more expensive to acquire than other breeds, their unique beauty and hardiness make them a popular choice for backyard flocks.
While many black chicken breeds have a certain amount of color variation in their feathers, the Ayam Cemani breed takes black coloring to the extreme. This breed is entirely black, with feathers, skin, and even internal organs that are all black.
This extreme black coloring is due to the unique genetic makeup of the Ayam Cemani breed. The genetic mutation that causes excess eumelanin production in other black chicken breeds is amplified in the Ayam Cemani, resulting in the bird’s entirely black coloring.
The Ayam Cemani’s unique genetic makeup has also led to other fascinating traits, including its hardiness, disease resistance, and excellent egg-laying abilities.
2. Black Australorp
The Black Australorp is a more standard black chicken breed known for its excellent egg-laying abilities. These birds are also hardy and disease-resistant, making them a good choice for backyard flocks. They have a calm and friendly temperament, which makes them an excellent choice for families with children.
3. Jersey Giant
As their name suggests, Jersey Giants are one of the giant chicken breeds, making them an impressive addition to any backyard flock. They have a glossy black coat and are known for their docile and friendly temperament. While they may not be the best egg layers, they make up for them with their imposing size and unique appearance.
4. Black Sex-Link
The Black Sex Link is a hybrid breed known for its excellent egg-laying abilities. They cross between a Rhode Island Red rooster and a Barred Rock hen, resulting in a bird with black and white feathers. While they may not be as striking as other black chicken breeds on this list, their egg-laying abilities make them a popular choice for backyard flocks.
5. Ancona
The Ancona is a breed from Italy with black and white mottled feathers. They are known for their excellent egg-laying abilities, as well as their hardiness and adaptability to different climates. They have a friendly and active temperament, making them a perfect choice for families with children.
6. Black Shumen
The Black Shumen is a Bulgarian breed known for its hardiness and resistance to disease. They have a glossy black coat and are small, making them easy to manage in a backyard flock. While they may not be the best egg layers, they are a striking and unique addition to any coop.
7. Breda
The Breda is a Dutch breed known for its hardiness and docile temperament. They have shiny black coats and distinctive crests on their heads. While they are not known for their egg-laying abilities, they are a good choice for families with children, as they are friendly and easy to handle.
8. Cochin (Pekin)
The Cochin, also known as the Pekin, is a Chinese breed in various colors, including black. They are known for their large size and fluffy feathers, which make them an impressive and unique addition to any backyard flock. They have a friendly and docile temperament, which makes them an excellent choice for families with children.
9. Kadaknath
The Kadaknath is an Indian breed that is entirely black, with black feathers, beaks, a comb, and even internal organs. They are known for their hardiness, resistance to disease, and high-quality meat. While they may not be the best egg layers, their unique and striking appearance makes them famous for backyard flocks.
10. La Fleche
The La Fleche is a French breed known for its unique and striking appearance. They have a glossy black coat and a distinctive V-shaped comb. They are good egg layers known for their hardiness and disease resistance.
11. Langshan
The Langshan is a Chinese breed known for its hardiness and high-quality meat. They have a shiny black coat and a distinctive upright posture. They are also good egg-layers and have a friendly and docile temperament, making them an excellent choice for families with children.
12. Minorca
The Minorca is a Spanish breed known for its striking appearance and excellent egg-laying abilities. They have a glossy black coat and a distinctive single comb. They are also hardy and disease-resistant, making them a good choice for backyard flocks.
13. Orpington
The Orpington is a British breed in various colors, including black. They are known for their large size, fluffy feathers, and excellent egg-laying abilities. They have a friendly and docile temperament, making them a great choice for families with children.
14. Silkie
The Silkie is a Chinese breed in various colors, including black. They are known for their fluffy feathers, distinctive appearance, and friendly and docile temperament. While they may not be the best egg layers, they are famous for backyard flocks due to their unique and unusual appearance.
15. Sumatra
The Sumatra is an Indonesian breed known for its unique and striking appearance. They have a glossy black coat and a distinctive upright posture. They are also good egg-layers and have a friendly and active temperament, making them a good choice for families with children.
16. Svart Hona (Swedish Black)
The Svart Hona or the Swedish Black is a Swedish breed entirely black, with black feathers, beaks, comb, and even internal organs. They are known for their hardiness, resistance to disease, and high-quality meat. While they may not be the best egg layers, their unique and striking appearance makes them famous for backyard flocks.
17. Valdarno
The Valdarno is an Italian breed known for its hardiness and resistance to disease. They have a glossy black coat and a distinctive upright posture. They are also good egg-layers and have a friendly and active temperament, making them an excellent choice for families with children.
18. White-Crested Black Polish
The White-Crested Black Polish is a breed in various colors, including black. They are known for their unique and striking appearance, with a large white crest on top of their heads. While they may not be the best egg layers, they are famous for backyard flocks due to their distinctive appearance and friendly temperament.
Other black chicken breeds.
While the Ayam Cemani is perhaps the most striking of all black chicken breeds, other breeds also have an excess of eumelanin production, resulting in their black coloring.
The Black Australorp, for example, is a popular breed known for its hardiness, adaptability to different climates, and excellent egg-laying abilities. This breed is entirely black, with a glossy black coat that is beautiful and practical for hiding dirt.
The Jersey Giant is another breed known for its black coloring, as well as its impressive size. This breed can weigh up to 13 pounds and has a glossy black coat that is striking and practical for blending in with the flock.
The genetics of black chickens.
To understand why black chicken breeds are black, starting with the basics of chicken genetics is essential. Like all living things, chickens have DNA segments that control the production of proteins and ultimately determine the bird’s traits, including its color.
One of the critical factors in chicken coloring is melanin, the pigment responsible for feather and skin color. Melanin comes in two forms: eumelanin, which produces black, brown, and gray colors, and pheomelanin, which produces reddish-brown and yellow colors.
The genetic mutation that causes black chicken breeds to have their unique black coloring affects the production of eumelanin. Typically, eumelanin is produced in small amounts and is balanced with pheomelanin, resulting in the typical brown or red color of most chicken breeds.
However, in black chicken breeds, this genetic mutation causes excess eumelanin production, resulting in the bird’s striking black coloring. This excess of eumelanin affects the bird’s feathers and skin and can cause the beak, comb, and internal organs to be black.
Breeding black chickens.
Breeding black chickens can be challenging, as breeders must select the desired traits while avoiding undesirable genetic mutations. However, the study of genetics can also be a valuable tool for selectively breeding black chickens.
One approach to selective breeding is to study the genetics of desirable traits, such as black coloring, and select birds with the desired genetic makeup for breeding. This approach can help breeders create lines of chickens with desirable characteristics and are less likely to have unwanted genetic mutations.
Another approach is to selectively breed for specific traits associated with black colorings, such as hardiness and disease resistance. By selecting these traits, breeders can create lines of chickens with beautiful black colors and other desirable qualities.
The benefits of black chicken breeds.
Before we dive into the specific breeds, let’s take a moment to discuss the benefits of black chicken breeds in general. While it’s true that the color of a chicken’s feathers doesn’t directly impact its egg-laying abilities, it can indicate certain genetic traits desirable in a backyard flock.
For example, black chicken breeds are often hardy and resilient, which means they can better withstand harsh weather conditions and common chicken ailments. They also tend to be more docile and friendly, which makes them easier to handle and a good choice for families with children.
Finally, black chicken breeds can add a touch of beauty and uniqueness to your backyard flock. Their dark feathers are a striking contrast to the more common white and brown chicken breeds, making them a real standout in your coop.
Choosing the right black chicken breed.
Now that you’re familiar with some of the most popular black chicken breeds, you may wonder which is the right choice for your backyard flock. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, a few factors must be considered.
First and foremost, you’ll want to consider your goals and preferences. Do you want a chicken breed that lays many eggs or is exceptionally hardy and disease-resistant?
Additionally, you’ll want to consider the climate in your area. If you live in particularly cold or hot weather, you’ll want to choose a black chicken breed known for its hardiness.
Finally, you’ll want to consider the size of your backyard flock. Some black chicken breeds, like the Jersey Giant, can take up a lot of space, while others, like the Black Sex-Link, are smaller and easier to manage.
Once you’ve considered all these factors, you can decide which black chicken breed is right for your backyard flock.
Caring for black chicken breeds.
Once you’ve chosen your black chicken breed, knowing how to care for them is essential. Here are some tips for keeping your black chickens healthy and happy:
- Provide adequate space — Black chicken breeds, like all chickens, need plenty of room to move around and stretch their wings. Make sure you have enough room in your coop for all of your chickens and that they have access to a run or other outdoor area as well.
- Feed a balanced diet — Your black chickens need a balanced diet with a high-quality layer of feed and plenty of fresh water. You can also supplement their diet with fruits, vegetables, and other treats to keep them happy and healthy.
- Keep the coop clean — Regularly cleaning your chicken coop is vital for the health of your birds. Remove any soiled bedding and clean the coop with a safe and effective cleaner.
- Protect from predators — Black chicken breeds, like all chickens, are vulnerable to predators like raccoons, foxes, and hawks. Ensure your coop is secure and your chickens have a safe place to retreat at night.
Frequently asked questions about black chicken breeds.
Black chickens are fascinating and unique birds in several different breeds, each with their physical characteristics and qualities. From excellent egg-laying abilities to hardiness and disease resistance, black chicken breeds have much to offer backyard chicken keepers.
By learning more about black chicken breeds and how to care for them, you can decide which breed is right for your flock. Whether you choose the striking Ayam Cemani or the friendly Black Australorp, your black chickens will surely be a unique and rewarding addition to your backyard flock.
What breed of chicken is black?
Black chicken breeds come in various breeds, such as the Ayam Cemani, Black Australorp, Jersey Giant, and Maran. These breeds have black feathers, skin, and even internal organs.
What is so special about black chicken?
Black chicken breeds are unique due to their distinct and striking appearance. Some black chicken breeds are known for their hardiness, disease resistance, and excellent egg-laying abilities.
What is the name of the black color chicken?
The name of the entirely black chicken, including its feathers, skin, beak, and internal organs, is the Ayam Cemani.
How rare are black chickens?
Black chicken breeds, such as the Ayam Cemani, are considered rare due to their unique genetic makeup, which causes their black coloring. However, other black chicken breeds, like the Black Australorp, are more common.
Does black chicken taste good?
Black chicken breeds are known to have a richer and gamier taste than traditional chicken. However, the taste is subjective, and some people may not prefer the flavor of black chicken.
What is the most expensive black chicken?
The Ayam Cemani is the most expensive black chicken breed, with prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars per bird.
Does black chicken taste different?
Black chicken breeds are known for having a richer and gamier flavor than traditional chicken. However, the taste is subjective and may vary depending on personal preferences and how the chicken is prepared.
Do Cemani chickens lay black eggs?
No, Cemani chickens do not lay black eggs; their eggs are the same color as those of other chicken breeds.
How much is a black chicken worth?
The price of a black chicken varies depending on the breed and where you purchase it. Ayam Cemani chickens, which are the most expensive, can cost several hundred to several thousand dollars per bird.
How long do black chickens live?
On average, black chicken breeds have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years, depending on the breed and how well they are cared for.
What color eggs do black chickens lay?
Black chicken breeds, like other breeds, can lay eggs in various colors, including brown, white, and even blue or green in some cases.
What is a black diamond chicken?
There is no specific breed of chicken called a black diamond. It may refer to a black chicken breed, such as the Ayam Cemani, or a name given to a black chicken with a unique or rare appearance.
What is the rarest color chicken?
The rarest chicken color is debatable and can vary depending on the breed. However, some breeds considered rare due to their unique coloring include the Ayam Cemani, Svart Hona, and Blue Copper Maran.
Is black chicken healthier?
There is no evidence to suggest that black chicken breeds are healthier than other chicken breeds. However, some black chicken breeds, such as the Ayam Cemani, are known for their high-quality meat.
Can you get black chicken in the USA?
You can find black chicken breeds in the USA, including the Ayam Cemani, Black Australorp, and Jersey Giant.
Are black chickens friendly?
The temperament of black chicken breeds can vary depending on the breed and upbringing. However, many black chicken breeds, such as the Black Australorp and Orpington, are known for their friendly and docile temperament.
What makes a black chicken black?
The black color in chicken breeds is caused by a genetic mutation affecting melanin production, which is responsible for feather and skin color.
What is the best way to cook black chicken?
The best way to cook black chicken depends on personal preferences and the breed of chicken. Black chicken breeds, like other breeds, can be cooked in various ways, including roasting, grilling, and frying. Some people may prefer to slow-cook black chicken, as this can help to bring out its rich and gamy flavor.
Who eats black chicken?
Black chicken is consumed in various parts of the world, including Asia, and is considered a delicacy due to its unique flavor and appearance. Some people also consume black chicken for its purported health benefits.
Is black chicken healthier than white chicken?
There is no evidence to suggest that black chicken breeds are healthier than other chicken breeds. However, some people believe that the unique genetic makeup of black chicken breeds, such as the Ayam Cemani, may have health benefits.
How long do black chickens lay eggs?
The egg-laying lifespan of black chicken breeds can vary depending on the species and how well they are cared for. On average, chickens can lay eggs for 2 to 3 years, with their egg production declining after the first year.
What black chicken lays the most eggs?
The black chicken breed known for its excellent egg-laying abilities is the Black Australorp. This breed can lay up to 300 eggs annually and is known for its hardiness and adaptability to different climates.
How can you tell if a black chicken is a rooster?
Determining the sex of a black chicken can be challenging, as its coloring can make it difficult to see its physical features. However, some ways to tell if a black chicken is a rooster include looking for the presence of spurs on the legs and listening for crowing.
What is the largest black chicken breed?
The largest black chicken breed is the Jersey Giant, which can weigh up to 13 pounds and has a glossy black coat.
How many breeds of black chickens are there?
Black chicken breeds include the Ayam Cemani, Black Australorp, Jersey Giant, and Maran. Some breeds, such as the Orpington and Cochin, come in black as a color variety.
Is Ayam Cemani chicken blood black?
No, the blood of the Ayam Cemani is not black. However, their internal organs, bones, and even their meat are dark in color due to the unique genetic makeup of the breed.
Is Ayam Cemani chicken meat black?
Yes, the meat of the Ayam Cemani is dark in color, ranging from a deep purple to black. This is due to melanin in the chicken’s tissues, coloring them black.
What makes Ayam Cemani black?
The Ayam Cemani is entirely black due to a genetic mutation that affects melanin production, the pigment responsible for feather and skin color. This mutation causes the breed to have black feathers, skin, beaks, and internal organs.
Black chickens are beautiful and unique birds.
Black chicken breeds are a unique and beautiful addition to any backyard flock. They add a touch of elegance and interest to your coop and come with several benefits, such as increased hardiness and egg production.
Whether you choose a striking Ayam Cemani or a reliable Black Australorp, you’ll love the addition of a black chicken breed to your backyard flock. By following the tips and advice in this comprehensive guide, you’ll be able to care for your black chickens properly and enjoy all of their benefits.
