Buzz
In regions where livestock is common, chickens are typically seen in white or varying shades of brown, with the occasional rare black chicken. Numerous chicken breeds are entirely or predominantly black, and some even feature black skin and meat! Explore these striking black chicken breeds with us.
1. Ancona
Photograph by Festina lente.
The Ancona breed hails from the town of Ancona, Italy, though it has gained greater popularity in England and America. Its standout feature is its black plumage with white accents. In a top-quality specimen, every fifth feather is tipped with white.
2. Valdarno
The Valdarno was first developed in Italy in 1905. It should not be mistaken for the Valdarnese, a white hybrid. This breed is celebrated for its resilience and superior meat quality.
3. Orpington
Orpington chickens were initially bred by William Cook in Orpington, England, in 1886. Cook aimed to combine the size and egg-laying prowess of American chickens with the white skin preferred by the British (as American chickens often had yellow skin at the time). The black Orpington emerged as a success and gained widespread popularity. Later, Kent introduced the breed in various colors, which also became highly sought after.
4. Silkie
Photograph by Flickr user normanack.
Silkies are highly favored by those looking to keep chickens as pets due to their incredibly soft and fluffy appearance. They are known for their calm and friendly nature. However, they struggle in wet conditions because their fluffy feathers lack the waterproofing found in other chicken breeds. Silkies are available in various feather colors, including black, white, gold, and gray, but all share black faces and skin, with dark gray or bluish-gray beaks, legs, and meat. Additionally, they possess five toes, unlike most chickens, which have four.
5. Black Shumen
Photograph by Dr lukanov.
The Black Shumen chicken is a rare breed originating from and named after Bulgaria's Shumen region. It features white skin, black feathers with a greenish sheen, and a striking red comb.
6. White-crested Black Polish
Photograph by Flickr user Berit Watkin.
The White-crested Black Polish chicken is an ornamental breed from Poland, primarily bred for show purposes. Known for their gentle temperament, they can also serve as good pets, though their vision is slightly hindered by the prominent crest of feathers on their heads.
7. Minorca
Photograph by Erik Fitzpatrick.
The Minorca chicken hails from the Mediterranean island of Minorca and gained popularity in Spain. Originally smaller in size, they have been selectively bred to grow significantly larger than their predecessors.
8. Sumatra
Photograph by Flickr user Melissa Wilkins.
The Sumatra chicken, as its name suggests, originates from Sumatra but is also native to Java and Borneo, thriving both in the wild and on farms. Wild Sumatra chickens display various colors, with black and red being the most common and preferred by farmers. They are known for their long, elegant tail feathers. Once bred for cockfighting, they are now primarily raised for exhibition purposes.
9. Kadaknath
Photograph by Arulnathan.
The Kadaknath chicken originates from Madhya Pradesh, India. While traditionally black, golden and mottled varieties have been bred. However, all Kadaknath chickens are known for their distinctive black meat and even black bones.
10. Ayam Cemani
Photograph by Kangwira.
The Ayam Cemani is the blackest of all chicken breeds, originating from Java, Sumatra, and Madura Island in Indonesia. Thanks to fibromelanosis, a genetic mutation causing hyperpigmentation, these chickens have black feathers, skin, beaks, claws, and meat, as shown here. The only non-black part is their blood, which is darker than that of typical chickens.
11. Swedish Black
Photograph by Linn Kangas.
The Bohuslän-Dals Svarthöna, or Swedish Black chicken, was developed in Sweden's Bohuslän and Dals counties. Created by crossing the Ayam Cemani with local chickens, it shares the same all-black pigmentation, including its meat, though it is smaller than its Indonesian counterpart.
While I find black chickens beautiful, I’m not sure I could bring myself to eat black chicken meat. Could you?
