Add some “Wow” factor to your backyard flock by choosing from the best black chicken breeds. These are all spectacular and many are rare. They will have your friends and family stopping by just to be dazzled!
We focus on maintaining a chicken flock that pulls its farm-weight. This means they have a good feed-to-meat or a feed-to-egg ratio. However, it’s fun to have a few birds that add a “wow” factor to the flock. This is easily accomplished by adding birds from these stunning breeds to your flock.
Most backyard flocks are filled with different colors and varieties. Like the familiar sight of the deep reds of the Rhode Island Red or the bright white feathers of the White Leghorn.
But occasionally, you have a chicken that catches everyone’s eye. Birds from this category prove to be attention catchers with their solid black feathers with deep subtle hues of beetle-green to purple sheen.
While most people stock their flock with whatever is available locally, there are a few of us chicken enthusiasts who go to great lengths to have different breeds in their flock. These rare breeds make the chicken coop feel a little more like a trip to an exotic location where the rarely seen bird is roaming free.
These breeds are, without a doubt, the best dressed, stylish looking animals in any flock.
The Ultimate Guide To Black Chicken Breeds
1. Ayam Cemani
This black chicken breed is indigenous to Indonesia and has been called the world’s most bewitching chicken. The Ayam Cemani is probably the most deeply pigmented chicken in the world.
Ayam Cemani is jet black because of a genetic mutation called fibromatosis.
The fibromelanistic gene creates excessive black pigment causing black skin and tissues and making the blood darker red, the bone marrow black, and black internal organs.
Most backyard chicken keepers have never even seen one. Those who have, know that this bird is highly unique in its appearance.
Its skin, feathers, beak, tongue, eyes, claws and even its heart is black. Yes, even its heart is color coordinated with its jet black outer appearance. However, it does not have black bones.
In Indonesia, where it is believed to have originated, some of the locals believe these solid black chickens have magical powers which enable people to talk to their dead relatives and serve as a good luck charm.
I think this bird is one of the most visually striking birds I have ever seen. But I will take one of the black breeds of chicken with 300 plus yearly egg production over talking to dead people any day.
The Ayam Cemani seems to have been breed from the Ayam Bekisar breed of chicken, originating on one of the Islands of Indonesia.
The Ayam Bekisar breed was developed by interbreeding a green jungle fowl with red jungle fowl.
It is very interesting, at least for us chicken lovers, that the Ayam Bekisar has a unique crow, so unique that it was used by ships as a foghorn. I’m trying to imagine how that would have worked?
The Ayam Cemani chicken made its first appearance in Europe in 1998 and is gaining popularity in America recently as most people are impressed by its striking appearance.
Before you rush off to get this jet black chicken breed added to your flock, you should know the cost is extremely high. For a purebred Ayam Cemani mating pair, you can expect to pay over $5000! You’d have to sell a lot of eggs to pay for that!
Speaking of eggs, the feed-to-egg ratio is not great with this bird and the feed-to-meat ratio is not much better. This puts this chicken in the “I have money to burn” category of backyard flock owners.
The Ayam Cemani hens are known to lay around one egg per week or about twenty eggs. Then she will stop laying for a few months. Then she will start laying again for a run of about twenty eggs. Then stop. She just repeats this cycle while in her egg laying prime.
The Dutch standard of perfection for this breed:
- The bird should stand upright, alert – almost game-like.
- The body is of medium size, slim, firm, and muscular.
- It will have a broad breast and a medium back, which slopes from the neck. The wings are long and strong, rising from wide shoulders.
- The tail feathers are held moderately high. Thighs are powerful and muscular. The bird should have 4 toes to each foot.
- Feathers are all black and are close-fitting to the body. Skin, eyes, wattles, and comb should all be black. You should see no other color.
- The feathers may show a beetle-green to purple iridescence in sunlight.
I only know of three other black chickens that share this dominant gene, although not as prominent. They are the Silkie, The Kadaknath from Madhya Pradesh India, and the Svart Hona of Sweden origin.
There is no healthy chicken that I know of that lays black eggs. Yes, all those photos on the internet of black chicken eggs have been faked! The closest egg to being that dark would be an Emu egg.
- Purpose: Dual-purpose (meat and eggs)
- Average Weight: Hen-4lbs; Rooster-6 lbs
- Egg Production: Medium size – Cream colored – 60 per year
Interested in learning more about the Ayam Cemani black chicken breed? We have an article about them.
2. Black Australorp
The Black Australorp is my husband’s favorite breed for the homestead. The roosters are very alert and protective, their back color helps them camouflage better, and they are hardy birds with great personalities. They are great foragers, keeping feed bills to a minimum.
The name is a contraction of Australian Black Orpington. Since it was Australians who did the intentional selective breeding for this breed, they are the honorary National Bird of Australia. Now that is a chicken loving country!
The Australorp gets a lot of its traits from its ancestor, the Orpington. The Orpington has a rich history as a classic English breed.
William Cook, who lived in Orpington, Kent, wanted to produce a chicken breed that could provide eggs as well as meat. In the 1800’s, he succeeded with the Orpington breed.
The Orpington quickly made its way to Australia where they wanted to improve on its egg laying abilities.
This standard English bird was bred with Rhode Island Reds, White Leghorns, Minorcas, Plymouth Rocks, and Langshans. The goal was to bury everyone at the local Australian egg laying contest in eggs!
The Australorp hens soon did just that. One hen set a laying record of 364 eggs in 365 days! This was without much help from modern lighting or heating! Very impressive production.
They are good layers. You can expect them to lay at least 5 eggs each week. They should start laying somewhere between 16-20 weeks of age and will average 250+ per year. They are great mothers and successfully hatch large batches of baby chicks.
The Australian Poultry Society recognizes the black, blue, and white Australorp.
The American Poultry Association only recognizes the Australorp in its original color – black.
Breed Standard:
- It should have a very upright stance, carrying the tail high.
- The breast is full and well-rounded with a deep, solid body.
- Wattles, earlobes, and comb should all be red in color.
- The comb should be upright and have no more than seven points.
- The legs should be clean of feathers, black or slate blue in color.
- There are four toes to each foot, and the skin on the bottom of the foot should be white, as is the body’s skin.
- Eyes are shiny jet black, and the beak is dark in color.
- Purpose: Dual-purpose bird
- Average Weight: Hen-6.5 lbs Rooster-8.5 lbs
- Egg Production: Medium sized – light brown eggs; avg. 300 per year
3. Jersey Giant
The Jersey Giant is the largest purebred chicken breed in the world! This is a beautiful bird from the black chickens to add to any backyard flock.
The sheer size of this bird makes an impression on all who are visiting your farm. They look a lot like a Black Australorp that has been hitting the steroids and backyard weights!
These beautiful black chickens come in three sizes that I have seen: big, huge, or oh my its moving towards me! But despite their size, they are a very docile breed with a wonderful temperament.
The history of this black chicken breed demonstrates the true old-timey character of sustenance farmers. It was developed to fill the demand for a large roasting bird that would rival the turkey for large celebrations and family meals.
Of course, the turkey would go on to become the favorite bird for such celebrations because of the broad-breasted turkey varieties bred and sold by commercial farms.
It was the brothers, John and Thomas Black who originally developed the Jersey Giant in Jobstown, New Jersey around the early 1870’s.
The Jersey Giant was originally called Giants and it was not until the early 1900’s that they started to be called Black Giants in honor of the Black brothers. In the early 1900s, around 1917, they were called Jersey Black Giants to also honor the State of New Jersey.
These large birds have an ancestral mix of Dark Brahmas, Black Java, and Black Langshan.
The Black brothers’ only goal was a huge meat bird for the large family. They cared little about the coloring of the feathers or any standardized look.
However, a few breeders started to work with the breed to make them more standardized. They started to show them at the local fairs for the public to admire. This led to the Black Jersey Giant being accepted into the APA in 1922 as a “black bird”.
The White Jersey Giants were created from the “sports” (chicks with white mutations) of the Black Jersey Giant. After years of selective breeding, they were also accepted as a standard hardy breed in 1947.
They have been removed from the critically endangered breed list, but as I write this article, they are still on the “watch list”. They are still rare to find in a local flock but seem to be regaining some of their favor with many backyard chicken keepers.
One look at the impressively sized Jersey Giant and images of dancing 4-H Club blue ribbons are bound to start dancing in a farm girl’s head! The feathers are tighter than most other breeds so it would be easy to primp your guy before the inevitable standing ovation.
These huge docile birds forage well. Their black color aids in camouflage and they’re too large for most hawks to carry off.
If they are to be totally confined, coop space should be four square feet/bird minimum – more is better, and several sources recommend eight square feet/bird.
The Jersey Giant is not the backyard breed I would say is the best at the feed-to-meat ratio as it takes longer for them to reach maturity. It will be over six months before a rooster will weigh 10 lbs and will not put on its full mature weight until after 12 weeks.
The meat will be at its best if they are allowed to forage and exercise and if any grain they are fed is organically raised in healthy soil.
If you free range your flock and follow our tips on feeding your chickens, your only consideration would be if this breed is something you want as an impressive addition to your flock.
Pullets will typically not start laying until at least 6 months old. Egg production is not too scruffy at 200 large brown eggs per year, around 4 eggs per week. Some people believe brown eggs have more nutrition than large white eggs however, there is no difference in the value of their nutrition.
Because the Jersey Giant is the largest of the black chicken breeds it is prone to contracting bumblefoot. Large breeds carry more weight causing a harder landing from roosts and flutters.
Keep an eye on your flock daily being aware of any limps. Catching it quickly will help you treat any infection before it turns deadly. Their friendly nature makes them easy to handle.
Breed Standard
- Comb: Single; large straight and upright, having six well-defined serrated points
- Beak: Moderately short, stout, well-curved, black with tinge of yellow at tip.
- Face: Smooth, skin fine and soft in texture.
- Eyes: Dark brown, large, round, and full.
- Wattles: Medium size, well-rounded at lower ends, free from folds or wrinkles.
- Neck: Long, Full, Arched
- Legs: should have black legs, no feathering on the legs with yellow soles on feet, and four toes.
- Back: Long, Broad, Nearly Horizontal, short sweep to tail.
- Tail: Large, full, well spread, carried at an angle of 45 degrees, green sheen to their feathers.
- Purpose: Dual-purpose
- Average Weight: Hen-10 lbs; Rooster-13 lbs
- Egg Production: Huge sized – medium brown color; avg. 200 per year
4. Langshan
This rare breed is an ancestor to some of the favorite breeds of backyard chicken keepers around the world.
The Langshan breed is one of the oldest breeds still available to us today. They have been put on the “watch list” status by the Livestock Conservancy.
Major hatcheries and some old fashion loving chicken keepers have dug in their heels to make sure this rare chicken breed continues to live on.
Originally breed in China, they were named after Langshan Hill close to the Yangtze river. They made their first appearance in England in 1872 due to the efforts of Major A. C. Croad.
From there it was only a few years before they made the voyage to America in 1876. Ornithologist, E.A. Samuels a resident of Waltham, Massachusetts, is credited for the introduction to the United States
Langshan chickens are a great and hardy choice for any homestead as a large, docile bird.
These dual purpose birds are hardy chickens, great foragers and alert to predators. They produce eggs that are one of the darkest browns of all breeds.
| Langshan variety | Beak | Shanks and feet |
| Black | Dark horn, shading to pinkish horn at tip | Bluish black |
| White | Slaty blue, shading to pinkish white | Bluish slate |
| Blue | Dark horn, shading to pinkish white tips | Bluish slate |
Breed Standard:
- Upright stately stance.
- The breast is full and well-rounded with a deep, solid body.
- Wattles, earlobes, and comb should all be red in color.
- The comb upright with seven points.
- The legs have feathers over black shanks.
- There are four toes to each foot.
- Eyes are dark, and the beak is dark in color.
- Purpose: Dual-purpose
- Average Weight: Hen-7.5 lbs; Roosters-9.5 lbs at 22 wks
- Egg Production: Medium-Large size – dark brown; avg 200 annually
5. Black Orpington
The Orpington is a dual-purpose chicken breed, bred for both eggs and meat. Developed in Orpington, Kent, England by William Cook. He wanted to develop a chicken breed that could provide eggs and meat.
In the 19th century he was successful with the Orpington chicken. By crossing Minorca, Langshan, and Barred Plymouth Rock breeds, he produced a hybrid.
At first, Cook bred a blackbird with the intent of hiding the air pollutants that clung to the feathers of light-colored chickens.
The bantam variety was developed in Germany in the early 20th century. There are several color variations, with the Buff Orpingtons being the most popular, as well as full-size and bantam varieties within the Orpington breed.
Orpingtons are large, friendly birds that are easy to handle. Because they are a friendly chicken, they do not do well mixed in with more aggressive breeds.
Orpingtons are relatively calm birds that perform well in urban or suburban areas. These qualities have made them a popular choice for 4-H projects and exhibitions.
Hens reproduce easily and make good mothers. A small flock of Orpingtons can easily be kept for a long time with minimum work. Roosters of this breed are unusually docile and make a great addition to any flock.
As a Heritage Breed, the Black Orpingtons are good foragers, hardy, and tend to reproduce easily.
Orpingtons do very well in cold climates, continuing to lay eggs in cold weather. They will thrive in warmer climates as well if they have enough shade and the coop has proper ventilation.
The Black Orpington was first exhibited at a Boston Show in 1890. In 1895, a large exhibit of Black Orpingtons was introduced at Madison Square Garden. This seemed to give the Black Orpington the public exposure it needed to become popular.
Breed Standard:
- Body: Bold, upright, and graceful; that of an active fowl.
- Head: Small and neat, fairly full over the eyes.
- Beak: strong and nicely curved.
- Eyes: large and bold.
- Comb: single comb, small, firmly set on head, evenly serrated and free from side sprigs.
- Face: smooth.
- Wattles: Medium length, rather oblong, and rounded at the bottom.
- Ear-lobes: small and elongated.
- Neck: Medium length, curved, compact with full hackle.
- Legs and feet: Legs short and strong, the thighs hidden by the body feathers.
- Toes, four, straight and well spread.
- Feathers: Profuse, soft, and loose.
- Purpose: Meat production 22 wks.
- Average Weight: hens 8-9 lbs; roosters 11-15 lbs
- Egg Production: Medium-Large size – brown; avg. 225 annually
Honorable Mentions
1. Swedish Black Chickens
A stronger, more cold-resistant version of its distant cousin Ayam Cemani, the Swedish black chicken is an absolutely fascinating bird with its black comb.
Swedish black chickens, or Swedish Hona, have the same fibromelanistic mutation as Indonesia’s most coveted chicken breed, Ayam Cemani. This gives the Swedish Black Chickens the deepest jet black color.
Despite these physical similarities, the Swedish Blacks have a very different history and have adapted to much colder climates than Ayam Cemani. Swedish Black Chickens are also rarer than Ayam Cemani. The Swedish census confirmed the presence of fewer than 500 birds.
- Purpose: Ornamental
- Average Weight: Rooster-4 lbs; hens – less than 4 lbs.
- Egg Production: Small size – Cream colored; avg. 150 annually
2. La Fleche Black Chickens
La Fleche is an ancient French variety born in the La Sarthe valley, where the city of La Fleche is located. They have been bred there for centuries.
They are known to have been around since at least the 15th century but are considered to be much older. The Black La Fleche is one of the rarest poultry breeds.
The La Fleche variety comes from a cross of the Spanish Black pedigree Creveecoeur-Du Mans. The Black La Fleche variety was recognized as a standard in the late nineteenth century.
These are birds commonly used in the production of meat and eggs. It has white skin color and has been called the Devil Bird because of the unique appearance of its upright V-shaped comb which resembles horns.
They are flighty and fly more than 7 ft in the air. Any fence must be high enough to keep them from flying over it. If allowed, they will roost in trees, so it’s a good idea to train them to return to their coop by feeding them before dark.
Although they are lively birds, they avoid contact with humans and are generally untamed. Chicks are slow to mature, they are a resilient breed, and hens are good egg layers and will continue to lay in cold temperatures.
- Purpose: Dual Purpose
- Average Weight: Hen 7 lbs; Rooster-9 lbs
- Egg Production: Medium size – White; avg. 200 annually
3. Minorca Black Chickens
The Black Minorca was one of the first breeds bred by McMurray Hatchery founder, Murray McMurray. When Murray first exhibited at the Iowa State Fairground in 1917, he won the Blue Ribbon with the Black Minorca Rooster.
Minorcas are the largest and heaviest of the Mediterranean breeds of chickens, and black Minorcas are the most popular.
They have a long, muscular body, large combs, long beards, slate legs, white ear lobes, and compact feathers. They are better suited for warm climates because they are susceptible to frostbite.
Black Minorcas are said to have good personalities. Hens are decent egg layers but will not get broody and set.
- Purpose: Egg Production
- Average Weight: Hen 7 lbs; Rooster 9 lbs
- Egg Production: Large size – White color; avg. 250 annually
4. Black Silkie Chickens
Bred in China or Japan the Black Silkie or in Mandarin 烏骨雞, wu gu ji, which means “dark-boned chicken” or “black-boned chicken”, it gained a following as an ornamental breed.
Both China and Japan claim the origin of these unique bantams and historians have traced them back to Marco Polo. Most people consider this to be a Japanese bantam.
The name Silkie is of western origin and refers to their fluffy feathers. Because their feathers lack barbicels they look and feel like fur. The Silkie chicken breed has great potential for small yards and as show birds.
The Black Silkie chicken owes its unusually deep black color to the same rare genetic mutation called fibromelanosis as the Ayam Cemani and other black birds. Purpose: Ornamental/Bantam
- Average Weight: Hen 2 lbs; Rooster-2.5 lbs
- Egg Production: Small size – Brown color; avg. 100 annually
5. Black Sumatra Chickens
Black Sumatras are a little wild and beautiful heritage breed of small chickens.
They do not like to be handle. The roosters can be aggressive toward each other and people. They are good fliers and don’t do well in confinement. They must be able to free range.
The Sumatra chicken was first seen in America in the 1800s. They were used for cock fighting. They usually have multiple spurs on each foot! Can you say double your pain when you have an aggressive rooster?
They are active birds and excellent foragers. Black Sumatras tend to breed seasonally. Roosters can live together agreeably until their breeding season begins and boy do things change!
Hens are generally only broody during breeding season. This makes this black chicken breed one to keep only for ornamental purposes and sheer entertainment value.
Black Sumatras were accepted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1883.
- Purpose: Ornamental
- Average Weight: Hen 2 lbs; Rooster-2.5 lbs
- Egg Production: Small size – Brown color; avg. 100 annually
Why Are Some Chicken Breeds Completely Black?
There are numerous factors related to why a chicken can be black, mostly due to the hereditary color of a breed.
While many black chicken breeds have glamorous black plumage that gives them a beautiful outward appearance, other chickens are completely black, with black hearts beaks, and bones.
Fibromelanosis is a mutation in some domestic chicken breeds that is expressed as an abnormal accumulation of melanin in the tissues of a chicken.
This can be seen in all organs and tissues of the chicken. This can include the tongue, the eyes, and even the heart. Most chickens with this mutation will only have some black pigmentation.
There are also some black chickens that are naturally melanistic. Because of their hereditary variations, they have more pigment production in their skin or feathers. It’s all about hereditary genetics and mutations of genes.
Advantages of Raising Black Chicken Breeds
Black chickens do have a few advantages that you may not have thought of.
Most of them are uniquely colored and delightful to look. Their magnificent plumage makes a visual treat for you and your friends.
Their unique beauty can give your 4-H kids a pop in the judging exhibitions and fairs. They are bound to attract attention from the fair going public.
Some people believe these breeds that have dark meat may be better for your health. They think this because black meat contains higher levels of the antioxidant, carnosine.
Don’t forget that if you live in a predator dense area, black chicken breeds are more easily camouflaged than their lighter colored cousins. Not to mention some of them are too big to make an easy meal for birds of prey.
One more often overlooked benefit is some of these breeds are in high demand. They are hard for the average backyard chicken keeper to find. So, these are good chickens to raise to sell, you should be able to make a high profit. You may even have a hard time keeping up your supply to meet the demand.
Challenges of Raising Black Chickens
Everything has pros and cons. You have decide if the pros outweigh the cons for your particular setup. You will have to consider both sides of the proverbial coin before you jump in with both feet.
First, a good strain of some black chickens is hard to find in some areas. Some breeds, like the striking jet black Ayam Cemanis, can be rare and expensive.
Beware of scams from non-reputable online stores that claim to be selling a pure breed of the black variety at a hefty discount. Hybrid fakes, hatchery fraud, and just plain scams are more prevalent than ever. People try to sell birds with the bait and switch, shipping you something you didn’t want to buy at exorbitant prices. Worse yet, not shipping you anything at all.
Most black chickens are not a good choice for warm climates. The black color absorbs heat causing them issues with overheating.
We have had no problem with these breeds we have had in the deep south here in the U.S. We do provide them with free range during the day and access to clean cool water. Also, they have great ventilation in the coop at night.
You want to be sure to pick the right breed to succeed on your homestead, the breeds that will fit with your goals and blend well with your current flock.
Where Can I Buy Black Chickens?
I have bought new chickens from a few different hatcheries over the years. When I do order birds, I buy from reputable companies that have many years of providing outstanding service.
There are times I must buy new birds. If I can’t increase the flock by letting our hens hatch out or if I want to add a new breed, for instance. When I do buy birds, I always try to buy locally to avoid long and stressful traveling complications.
You can look online for local farms or hatcheries that sell chicks, chickens, or fertile eggs to set under one of your hens or incubate yourself. Inspect the farms’ birds, if possible, to make sure you are getting a hardy strain of the breed you want to purchase.
Are Black Chickens Right for Me?
It really comes down to knowing what you want from your flock and if your current flock is a good fit for these gorgeous black chickens.
The information in this article, along with your knowledge of what you want for your flock, will give you everything you need to make the right decision for a happy, healthy flock.
As always, I’m here to help you achieve your best flock now! You can email me or reach out on social media with any questions or concerns.
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