Emily Carter
There are several breeds of chicken that are black with hints of blue. The Ayam Cemani, a rare breed from Indonesia, is one of the most well-known examples, with blue-black bones, organs, and meat due to hyperpigmentation caused by the fibromelanosis gene. Other black chicken breeds include the Jersey Giant, Australorp, Sumatra, and White-Faced Black Spanish, some of which may exhibit hints of blue in their plumage or eggshells. The Ameraucana breed, developed in the United States, is known for laying blue eggs, and the Andalusian Blue breed from Spain also exhibits blue plumage. Additionally, the Langshan and Leghorn breeds are recognized in black and blue varieties by the APA.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ayam Cemani |
| Origin | Indonesia |
| Colour | Black with hints of blue |
| Features | Feathers, beak, comb, tongue, toes, bones, meat, and internal organs are black |
| Genetics | Possess the fibromelanosis gene, a genetic mutation that causes hyperpigmentation |
| Antioxidant Content | High levels of the antioxidant carnosine |
| Use | Gamecock for cockfighting in Bali |
| Price | Up to $9000 for an adult and $16 for an egg |
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What You'll Learn
- The Ayam Cemani is a rare Indonesian breed that is black inside and out
- The Kadaknath, or Kali Masi, is a completely black Indian breed
- The Silkie breed has black skin and hair-like feathers
- The Australorp is a dual-purpose breed from Australia
- The Jersey Giant is the largest of the black chicken breeds
The Ayam Cemani is a rare Indonesian breed that is black inside and out
The Ayam Cemani is a pure Indonesian breed that originated on the island of Java and has been used since the 12th century for religious and mystical purposes. It was first described by Dutch colonial settlers and imported to Europe in 1998. This rare breed is highly valued for its unique characteristics and can be extremely expensive, with prices reaching up to $9000 for an adult bird and $16 for a single egg.
The Ayam Cemani is not the only black chicken breed, but it is the most well-known example of hyperpigmentation in chickens. Other breeds that exhibit this trait include the Silkie, which has soft, hair-like feathers, the Black H'Mong chickens of Vietnam, and the Svarthöna of Sweden. These chickens all share the same genetic mutation, which causes an over-expression of the endothelin 3 (EDN3) gene, leading to an increased number of melanoblasts and resulting in their distinctive dark colouration.
While the history of these breeds is still a mystery, some believe that the first reference to black-boned chickens may have been made by Marco Polo in 1298 during his travels in Asia. He described a breed of chickens with "'hair like cats,' that were black and laid excellent eggs, which could be an early description of the Silkie breed. The mutation is thought to have been spread by livestock owners who valued the novelty of the birds' coloration.
The Ayam Cemani is not just notable for its colour but also for its muscular thighs, which make it a popular gamecock for cockfighting in Bali. Its dark meat is also prized by gourmands, who claim that it possesses a unique and rich flavour. Overall, the Ayam Cemani is a fascinating example of the diversity found within chicken breeds and a testament to the impact of domestication and selective breeding on the modern chicken.
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The Kadaknath, or Kali Masi, is a completely black Indian breed
The Kadaknath shares this distinctive feature with the Ayam Cemani of Indonesia, which is often considered the most deeply pigmented creature on Earth. The Ayam Cemani's feathers, beak, comb, tongue, toes, bones, and even meat are a striking blue-black colour. This Indonesian breed is also the most well-known example of a chicken with dermal hyperpigmentation, which scientists refer to as fibromelanosis.
The term "fibromelanosis" refers to a genetic mutation that results in an excessive amount of melanin throughout a chicken's body. This mutation affects the expression of the gene EDN3, which controls skin colour. In hyperpigmented chickens, all of the body's cells express EDN3, resulting in up to 10 times the normal number of melanoblasts and leading to the characteristic dark colouration.
Despite the unusual appearance of these chickens, the mutation does not seem to have any negative health effects. In fact, the meat of fibromelanistic chickens like the Kadaknath is valued for its health benefits and unique flavour. The meat contains higher levels of the antioxidant carnosine, which is believed to have anti-aging properties and is important for various normal body functions.
The Kadaknath is just one example of the diverse range of black chicken breeds found worldwide, each with its own unique characteristics and history.
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The Silkie breed has black skin and hair-like feathers
The Silkie chicken breed is characterised by its black skin and hair-like feathers. This breed is native to Asia and was first described by Marco Polo in 1298, who wrote of a breed of chickens that "have hair like cats, are black, and lay the best of eggs". The Silkie's black skin and feathers are caused by a genetic mutation called fibromelanosis, which results in an excessive amount of melanin throughout the chicken's body. This mutation is also found in other chicken breeds such as the Ayam Cemani from Indonesia and the Kadaknath from India.
Silkies are known for their silky-feather mutation, which gives them their distinctive hair-like feathers. This mutation causes the feathers to lack barbicels, giving them a fur-like appearance. They come in many colour varieties besides black, and they are a light, friendly, and intelligent breed. Silkies are also known for their egg-laying abilities, with some sources claiming that they "lay the best of eggs".
The black colouration of Silkie chickens is highly valued by breeders and gourmands, who appreciate the unique and rich flavour that the dark meat and bones possess. The meat of fibromelanistic chickens, such as Silkies, is also believed to have health benefits due to its higher than usual content of the antioxidant carnosine. This protein building block is important for many normal body functions and is thought to have the potential to delay the ageing process.
While the Silkie breed is known for its black colouration, it is important to note that not all Silkies are completely black. The bantam variety, for example, comes in many colour varieties besides black. Additionally, Silkies may have a beetle-green to purple sheen on their head, hackle, back, saddle, sickles, and wing bows, which is particularly rich in male birds but still evident in females.
In conclusion, the Silkie chicken breed is known for its black skin and hair-like feathers, which are caused by the fibromelanosis genetic mutation. This mutation results in an excessive amount of melanin, giving Silkies their distinctive colouration and health benefits. Besides their colour, Silkies are also valued for their egg-laying abilities and friendly, intelligent personalities.
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The Australorp is a dual-purpose breed from Australia
The Australorp is a dual-purpose breed of chicken that originated in Australia. It is primarily a black chicken breed, although Australia recognizes a white and a blue variety as well. Australorps were named for their country of origin, and they descended directly from the black Orpington chickens of England. They are Australia's national chicken.
The Australorp is a large breed, with roosters averaging 13-15 pounds and hens weighing in at 10-11 pounds. They are known for their steady egg production, with hens laying about 250 blue eggs per year. Australorps have a pea comb, white skin, and slate or black legs, muffs, and beards. Their feathers are a uniform shade of black, with a beetle-green to purple sheen that is particularly rich in male birds but still evident in females.
The black plumage of Australorps is the result of the black pigment melanin, specifically eumelanin. The green and purple sheens are not caused by pigmentation but by structural coloration, the interference of light reflecting from different layers of the feather structures. The expression of any colour in chicken plumage, except white, requires the presence of the allele C (colour), an autosomic dominant allele that allows pigment synthesis in the feathers.
In addition to Australorps, other chicken breeds with solid black plumage include Sumatra, White-Faced Black Spanish, Jersey Giant, and Langshan. Many other breeds, such as Leghorn, Minorca, Wyandotte, and Orpington, also have extended black varieties. The inheritance of chicken plumage colour is complex and depends on several interacting genetic factors.
While the Australorp breed is known for its black plumage, it is important to note that the definition of "black chicken breeds" can vary. Some consider a breed to be "black" if it has black plumage, while others look for black skin or other body parts as well. Additionally, many chickens with black plumage do not have black skin, and some breeds only come in black.
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The Jersey Giant is the largest of the black chicken breeds
The Jersey Giant chicken is the largest of the black chicken breeds. Developed in New Jersey between 1870 and 1890, the Jersey Giant was created by John and Thomas Black, who combined several large chickens to produce these huge birds. The roosters of this breed average between 13 and 15 pounds, while the hens weigh in at 10 to 11 pounds, making them heavier than most roosters of other breeds.
The Jersey Giant chicken breed was initially meant for meat production as an alternative to turkey. The black variety is the original version of the breed, with white, blue, and splash Jersey Giants resulting from sports. The APA (American Poultry Association) first recognised the black variety in 1922, the white in 1947, and the blue variety as recently as 2003.
The Jersey Giant is one of several chicken breeds with black plumage, which is the result of the black pigment melanin. Hyperpigmentation, caused by the genetic mutation fibromelanosis, results in an excessive amount of melanin throughout a chicken's body. The Ayam Cemani from Indonesia is another well-known example of a chicken breed with hyperpigmentation, and its name translates to "thoroughly black chicken".
While the Jersey Giant is the largest of the black chicken breeds, other black chicken breeds exist, such as the Australorp, Sumatra, and White-Faced Black Spanish. Some chicken breeds, like the Old English Game chicken, are known for having a wide range of colour varieties, including black.
In addition to black plumage, some chicken breeds are known for laying blue eggs, such as the Ameraucana, which was developed in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. The darker the plumage of an Ameraucana chicken, the deeper blue their eggshells tend to be.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several breeds of chicken that are black with hints of blue. These include the Ameraucana, the Andalusian Blue, the Langshan, and the Silkie.
The Ameraucana chicken breed originated in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. They are known for laying pale blue eggs and have relatively short, curved tails.
The Andalusian Blue chicken, also known as the Blue Andalusian, originated in Spain. They commonly have slate-blue-colored plumage, but can also be off-white or black depending on their genetics.
The Langshan chicken breed originated in Tuscany, Italy. They are recognized by the APA in large and bantam varieties in three colors: black, white, and blue.
The Silkie chicken breed originated in Asia. They are known for their soft, hair-like feathers and hyperpigmented skin and tissues. They are also black inside and out.
