Chickens can make a delightful addition to your backyard or farm. These quirky birds can provide your family with ethically raised eggs, meat, and countless hours of entertainment. If youâre planning to start or expand your flock, you can choose from a range of types. A breed of black chickens can make a colorful addition to your yard. Â.
What are black chickens? Chickens in this category typically have black skin and black feathers, though black chicken breeds like the Sumatra chicken can also produce other feather colors. If you enjoy these birdsâ striking appearances, you can choose from many types of black chickens. Learn about black chicken characteristics, breeds, and benefits.
Black chickens are strikingly beautiful birds that can make a wonderful addition to any backyard flock. Their dark plumage provides an exotic look not found in more common white or brown chickens. But what breeds of chickens have black feathers? There are actually several black chicken breeds to choose from, each with its own distinct personality and traits. In this article, we will explore 10 of the most popular black chicken breeds so you can learn more about these gorgeous fowl.
1. Australorp
The Australorp is one of the most popular black chicken breeds. Originating in Australia in the early 1900s, it was bred specifically for egg laying and thrives in hot climates. Australorps have lustrous black feathers and reddish-brown eyes. The hens are prolific layers producing up to 250 light brown eggs per year. They also make great meat birds growing rapidly and providing a good carcass size.
Australorps have a friendly, docile temperament. Their calm nature and high productivity make them an excellent breed for beginner chicken keepers. Roosters can be a bit more aggressive, so many owners keep just hens. Overall, Australorps are a dual-purpose chicken that offers both eggs and meat.
2. Orpington
The Orpington breed hails from England and was created in the 1880s. Black Orpingtons have beautiful, shimmering black feathers and can appear dark blue or green in bright sunlight. They are heavy-bodied chickens with a broad, rounded appearance.
Black Orpington hens are excellent layers, producing up to 200 large brown eggs per year. The hens make devoted mothers and frequently go broody. Orpingtons are also valued as meat birds, with a delicious flavor. Their docile personality makes them a joy to own.
3. Jersey Giant
As the name implies Jersey Giants are very large chickens. The black variety has jet black feathers and legs. Jersey Giants are an American breed developed in the late 1800s. Roosters can weigh up to 15 pounds while hens reach 11 pounds.
About 200 extra-large brown eggs are laid by Jersey Giants every year, which is a good number. People love Jersey Giants because they grow quickly and have big bodies, which makes them great for raising for meat. Despite their big size, they are gentle and calm, so they make great pets.
4. Ayam Cemani
This rare Indonesian breed has a totally black appearance – black feathers, beak, legs, toes, even black internal organs! It stems from a rare genetic trait called fibromelanosis. Ayam Cemanis are all black from hatching. They have a mysterious, Gothic appearance.
Ayam Cemani hens lay about 60 to 100 cream-colored eggs per year. While not great layers, they provide high-quality black meat. Their rarity also makes them expensive. Ayam Cemanis have a calm, friendly personality when well-socialized. Their spooky good looks make them a fun novelty breed.
5. Silkie
The Silkie has hair-like plumage that makes it one of the most unusual chicken breeds. The black Silkie has fluffy, silky black feathers, a walnut-colored comb, dark skin, and five toes instead of the usual four. The black meat and bones make it look even more unusual when plucked.
Silkies are bantams, meaning miniature chickens. Hens lay a fair number of small, cream-colored eggs. Silkies are renowned for their calm, docile temperament and heat tolerance. Their atypical appearance and furry feathers make them popular exhibition birds.
6. Sumatra
This rare breed was first found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Sumatras have long, black feathers that flow freely and a green sheen that shines in the sun. They have a beetle-green sheen. Hens lay about 100 white eggs per year.
While the hens are decent layers, Sumatras are primarily raised for exhibition. The long, flowing tail feathers of the rooster make a dramatic statement in shows. Sumatras have a reputation for being flighty and active. Their unique looks make them a standout addition to any flock.
7. Polish
Polish chickens are very distinctive due to their crested heads. The crest limits their vision but gives them a fanciful, aristocratic bearing. Polish chickens come in several color varieties, including a striking black variety with bright white crests.
Polish hens lay a moderate number of white eggs, around 200 per year. They are active foragers when allowed to free range. The crested head, combined with their small V-shaped comb, makes them prone to heat stress. Polish chickens are mainly kept for ornamental purposes.
8. Cochin
This Asian breed was brought to the United States in the 1840s and made a big splash because of their huge size and lots of feathers. Because they have so many feathers on their legs and feet, cochins look like they are wearing feather pants. The black Cochin has lustrous black plumage.
Cochin hens lay a moderate number of light brown eggs, around 160 per year. While good layers, they are most valued for their massive size – up to 11 pounds! Cochins are also extremely calm and docile, making them great pets, especially for children. Their fluffy appearance makes them popular exhibition birds.
9. Marans
Marans originated in France and are known for their very dark chocolate-brown eggs. The Black Copper Marans variety has gorgeous black feathers with a green sheen. The hens lay about 200 very dark brown eggs per year.
The Black Copper Marans is a hardy breed that likes to be active and is good at finding food when it is free to roam. They have a reputation for being shy around humans. But once they are settled in with a flock, they are calm. This breed is unique because of its chocolate eggs and bright colors.
10. Cornish
Cornish chickens originated in Cornwall, England and were one of the breeds used to create the modern commercial broiler chicken. The Cornish is a large, meaty bird with broad breasts and short legs. The black variety has a green sheen to the feathers.
Although the hens lay a decent number of tinted brown eggs (around 200 per year), the Cornish is raised primarily for meat. It has an extremely fast growth rate, reaching a market weight of 6-8 pounds in just 7-8 weeks. The Cornish is the foundation breed for many commercial meat birds.
Summary
This covers 10 of the most common black chicken breeds. As you can see, black chickens span a wide range of sizes, egg production, and personalities. From gentle giants like the Jersey Giant to fluffy breeds like the Cochin, black chickens offer variety for any flock. They provide great beauty with their shimmery black plumage but also usefulness through meat and eggs. So consider adding one of these stunning black chicken breeds to your backyard flock!
How Do You Care for Black Chicken Breeds?Â
Generally, black chickens require the same care as their white counterparts. Tips for raising healthy chickens of any breed include:Â.
- Make sure that your chickens can always get clean water.
- Give your birds a healthy diet with a mix of grains, fruits, and vegetables.
- Keep chickens in a large coop that will protect them from bad weather and animals that might try to eat them.
- Keep a close eye on your chickens to see if they show any signs of illness, such as not wanting to eat or sneezing.
- Remove manure from your chicken coop frequently.
- Adding crushed oyster shells and grit to the food your laying hens eat will help them lay more eggs.
Some black chicken types may require additional care. For instance, fragile breeds like the Spanish chicken need greater attention and secure shelter during harsh cold or hot weather. Â.
Carefully researching chicken breeds can help you decide between black and white chickens. Selecting the best chicken for you will allow you to enjoy years of companionship, eggs, and meat.
What Are Black Chickens?Â
Generally, the term âblack chickenâ refers to any chicken that has dark plumage. More specifically, many poultry experts use this name for chickens with black beaks, bones, flesh, and skin. Depending on the breed, these black chickens can have a range of feather colors. For instance, silkie chickens have black bones and skin, but their plumage can be white, brown, or another color. Â.
Many black chicken breeds originated in Asia. Chinese farmers, for example, loved the Xichuan black-bone chicken and only bred birds with five black body parts, such as feathers and skin. Preliminary research shows that multiple genes work together to produce the chickensâ black coat, skin, and shanks.
Some people believe that black chickens have medicinal properties. Other chicken owners simply admire the birds for their unique coloring and ability to supply eggs and meat.
Discover 14 Unique Black Chicken Breeds: A Comprehensive Guide
FAQ
What breed are black chickens?
A few breeds worldwide express hyperpigmentation. Best known in the United States is the Ayam Cemani from Indonesia, the name of which means “thoroughly black chicken. ”.
Is black chicken good to eat?
Research suggests that the dark meat of black chicken breeds like the Kadaknath provides a rich source of carnosine. Carnosine is a protein-building compound that has antioxidant properties, so eating black chicken meat may be a healthier choice than white meat. Aug 16, 2024.
What color eggs do black chickens lay?
Marans chickens have a beautiful dark black plumage with a beetle sheen over top. They are known for laying large, dark chocolate eggs.
How much is a fully black chicken worth?
The Ayam Cemani is often considered the most expensive chicken breed in the world. Known for its all-black appearance—including feathers, skin, and internal organs—it can sell for thousands of dollars due to its rarity and exotic appearance.
Are black chickens rare?
It depends on the chicken breed. Some black chicken breeds like the Ayam Cemani and Sumatra are rare. Yet, black variants of common breeds are possible. So, if all you want is a black chicken, you won’t have to spend a lot of money, but it might be hard to find a rare breed. Will a Black Chicken Lay Black Eggs?.
Are there any black chicken breeds?
There are many types of black chickens. Some have black meat and bones. Learn more about them here.
Do all black chickens have black skin?
Today, there are breeds that are only composed of black chickens while others have one variant with solid black or mostly black plumage. For some all-black breeds, this goes a step further; the chickens have black skin, meat, and bones as well as tails.
Are black chickens expensive?
However, common breeds of black chickens, such as Orpingtons or Australorps, are generally no more expensive than other colors or breeds of chickens. Therefore, you should have no trouble finding or financing your purchase of these beautiful birds. Black chicken breeds are uncommon, but they’re desired for their gorgeous appearances.
Are black chickens attractive?
Black chicken breeds are absolutely gorgeous to look at. From the moment you take a look at one of these breeds, you know for a fact that you have fallen in love with their out of the ordinary attractive appearance.
Why are black chickens so popular?
It’s difficult to overstate the popularity of black chicken breeds. Many heritage breeds today have a black variant and some are only made up of black chickens. The aesthetics of black chickens is great but many of these birds have more to offer than stunning good looks.