Just like how every woman needs a little black dress, every backyard flock needs black chicken breeds. Why? Because it’s a beautiful and elegant color!
fortunately, black chicken breeds can be found easily in hatcheries and individual sellers. If you ’ rhenium interest in getting to know the diverse kinds of breeds with colored feathers ( including black and white speckled chicken breeds ! ), you ’ re in for a process !
You ’ ll discover your options in this ultimate list of black chicken breeds !
Reading: Black Chicken Breeds: Ultimate List
Ultimate List of Black Chicken Breeds
- Ayam Cemani
- Black Sex Link Chickens
- Black Australorp Chicken
- Silkie Chickens
- Black Star Chickens
- Marans Chicken
- Black Jersey Giant Chicken
- Cochin Chickens
- Orpington Chicken
- Black Polish Chicken
- Sumatra Chicken
- White Crested Black Polish Chicken
- Black Rock Chicken
- Bantam Cochin Chickens
- Frizzle Chickens
- Minorca Chicken
- White Faced Black Spanish
- Langshan
- Svarthöna
- Castellana Negra
Ayam Cemani
In accession to being an all black chicken breed, Ayam Cemani besides have the distinction of being the most EXPENSIVE chicken breed in the world ! On modal, a education pair goes for $ 5,000 !
This type of chicken in the first place hails from Indonesia, where it ’ s prized for its mysterious abilities. Ayam Cemani chickens are completely black ( both inside and out ), and have a heart adenine black as its feathers .
Their blood is besides said to be quite thickly, and a dark red than normal ( although this theory hasn ’ triiodothyronine been test ) .
In Indonesia, this black chicken is said to be a good fortune appeal, and some people believe it can communicate with the beyond. In some cultures, the Ayam Cemani is used in ceremonies before big events .
however, you might be disappointed to learn that evening though the Ayam Cemani is the only true 100 % black chicken engender, they don ’ metric ton lay black chicken eggs. They lay cream colored eggs of medium size .
If you do buy this engender, please do your homework and make surely your supplier is honest – there ’ s many people who try to pass off hybrid chickens as purebred Ayam Cemani .
Some hatcheries that offer Ayam Cemani are Featherloverfarms, Cackle Hatchery, and Greenfire Farms Hatchery. You can read our review of Cackle Hatchery here .
Black Sex Link Chickens
This breed isn ’ t in truth a black wimp breed ( it ’ s a loanblend ) but they ’ re calm very beautiful birds that are besides superintendent friendly ( and the roosters tend to be calm ) .
Black sex link chickens are the resultant role of crossing two purebred heritage chicken breeds – a Rhode Island Red cock with a barricaded rock hen. The condition “ sex link ” means that the discolor of the chicks depends on the sex of the dame .
When black sex connection chicks are born, the male chicks have a white spot on their heads – the females don ’ thymine ( they ’ re all black ). This unique trait only systematically occurs when the Rhode Island Red cock is crossed with a Barred Rock hen – in early words, black sex yoke chickens don ’ t breed genuine .
This chicken breed is very healthy and make great layers and pets. many prefer this breed to raise release range chickens eggs and organic release range chickens .
You can purchase black sex connect chicks at Cackle Hatchery, Purely Poultry, and McMurray Hatchery .
Black Australorp Chicken
Black Australorps are fantastic chickens to have in your batch ! This clean-legged breed originated in Australia from the Orpington wimp. They got a set of attention in the 1920s when they broke respective earth records for the most testis lay ! You can find them now in any grow shop in the US .
Their black feathers besides have shades of greens, and the hens are great layers and identical friendly. This big blacken chicken will tolerate confinement good, and is an egg laying machine of over 250 eggs per class .
You can purchase this breed at Cackle Hatchery, Purely Poultry, and Meyer Hatchery .
Silkie Chickens
Silkie chickens are another black chicken breed.. They are cute and cuddlesome, so they are easily loved as syndicate pets. They ’ re steady, and are affected role with being held. The hens are long-familiar for their brood ability and their excess toes ! They lay 2-3 cream colored eggs per workweek, and are broadly friendly. Kids just love them !
Their feathers are more like down, and you ’ ll fall in love with their feather feet ! They lay around 250 brown large to extra large eggs per year. In addition to black, Silkies besides come in a variety of other colors, including white and buff .
You can purchase this breed at Cackle Hatchery, Chickens for Backyards, and Meyer Hatchery .
Black Star Chickens
A relatively newfangled edition to the backyard chicken world, this breed is metier sized and weighs in at around 7 to 8 lbs, with hens at 5 pound. This bird is identical docile, hardy, and low maintenance since they can adapt to local conditions .
You can purchase this breed at Chickens for Backyards and Meyer Hatchery .
Marans Chicken
This breed is called “ chocolate eggers ” because they ’ re well known for their darkness colored eggs. Marans originated in the town of Marans, in France, and their eggs are said to be the best in the world. not all hens will lay the deeply cocoa brown eggs, although all females will lay brown eggs .
You ’ ll love their feather feet and hardy natures. While black Marans chickens are said to have the best eggs, this breed besides comes in other varieties, including Wheaton, Cuckoo, Blue Copper, and more. They are a rarity, and have fantastic personalities .
You can purchase this breed at Cackle Hatchery and Purely Poultry
Black Jersey Giant Chicken
This black giant chicken breed is the largest purebred chicken in the US, and possibly the worldly concern. This inheritance chicken breed originated in the United States as a kernel bird and an alternative to turkeys .
This total darkness chicken engender weighs in at around 11 to 15 pounds. They are docile and mellow, and the roosters have even temperaments. The roosters are good protectors, and are hardy .
The hens aren ’ thymine deoxyadenosine monophosphate large as the roosters, but are consistent egg layers with friendly, even cuddlesome, temperaments .
You can purchase this breed at Cackle Hatchery, My Pet Chicken, and strictly Poultry .
Cochin Chickens
Cochins are besides larger birds ( although there is a bantam diverseness ) that come in many colors including black ! The name refers to the fact that the shuttlecock is a chinese Shanghai Fowl, and among the many reasons you would want one is that they get along good with children. They ’ re besides gentle, and capital for raising chicks. They lay small to medium size embrown eggs, and this particular variety is known for its colored black color .
You can purchase this black chicken breed at Cackle Hatchery, Purely Poultry, and Strombergs Chickens .
Orpington Chicken
This particular breed is well known for its diachronic significance – they ’ ve been around for a long fourth dimension ! The original Orpingtons were blank, but they besides come in fan and black colors. They ’ re besides one of the most ennoble and docile breeds, and it makes them big pets .
The roosters are hardy, friendly, and big protectors. They love finding food for the hens, and will “ turn ” their hens up at night to make surely everyone is in the cage !
Although they were primitively bred for both eggs and kernel, they ’ rhenium better as egg layers. Their eggs are a tint tap to brown discolor, and they lay about 300 eggs per year. This breed is a good forager and greatly desired for their looks and slowly going nature .
You can purchase Orpington chickens at most major hatcheries and farm stores .
Black Polish Chicken
polish chickens are an adorable ornamental breed ! They ’ ra best known for the tufts of feathers on their point, fondly referred to by chicken owners as their “ pommy pommy. ”
This breed is a stun mix of white, brown, and black making it a real principal turner. The silver laced polish varieties are black and white chickens. They ’ rhenium aloof birds, although they can be friendly if you interact a fortune with them. They ’ re besides moderate egg layers – but their beautiful feathers and personalities make up for whatever they lack in the egg laying department !
You can purchase this breed at Cackle Hatchery and Meyer Hatchery .
Sumatra Chicken
While a bite more difficult to find, this black chicken breed is worth it ! With their long buttocks feathers, they ’ re a gorgeous addition to any flock. They ’ rhenium named after their home of origin : The island of Sumatra, in Indonesia. The hens lay whiten eggs, but don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate lay that frequently – possibly doubly a week. however, if you want to hatch wimp eggs naturally, then this might be the breed for you – like Silkies, Sumatras tend to “ go broody. ” In addition to black, you might find the aristocratic and white varieties for sale .
You can purchase this ornamental breed at My Pet Chicken, mypetchicken, Cackle Hatchery, and strictly Poultry
White Crested Black Polish Chicken
You ’ ll fall in love with these birds ! They ’ ra adorable ! originally from the Netherlands, the White Crested Black Polish chicken has a strike contrast in color between it ’ s dark body feathers and it ’ s poofy white peak. They ’ re friendly, although the crown does sometimes make it hard for them to see. If you spend a lot of time with them, though, they ’ re more probable to trust you. The hens lay white eggs, although not every hen will lay systematically. This breed is chiefly kept for cosmetic purposes .
You can purchase this breed at Cackle Hatchery and Strombergs Chickens .
Black Rock Chicken
This especial breed was developed in Scotland, and international relations and security network ’ triiodothyronine long-familiar in the United States. It ’ s a loanblend cross from selected strains of Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock.They ’ re effective foragers, and excellent layers : you can expect to get about 250 brown eggs per year .
You can purchase this breed at Farmfowl if you live in the UK .
Bantam Cochin Chickens
Bantam cochins make a fantastic summation to any troop – and you ’ ll love how the black kind has feathered leg ! This breed is perfect for anyone who is looking for a docile and kid-friendly chicken. The hens lay small embrown eggs ( because the chicken itself is modest ), and the roosters enjoy human company. They love to be cuddled by their humans ! In addition to total darkness, bantam cochins come in white and buff varieties .
You can purchase this engender at Cackle Hatchery and Welp Hatchery .
Frizzle Chickens
A frizzle chicken is fun and lovable with a identical unusual look – their feathers “ frizzle ” and coil upwards. They ’ re not a separate breed, but a variety of many different types of breeds. Some cochins have a crimp kind. Children love them because they look then cuddlesome. Frizzles tend to be smaller, and they have friendly and docile dispositions. They will lay approximately 120 to 150 alight brown colored eggs per class. Be indisputable to keep an eye on your frizzle over the winter – because their feathers don ’ thyroxine lie against their bodies, they might have a harder time in cold upwind .
You can purchase this breed at Meyer Hatchery and Strombergs Chickens .
Minorca Chicken
Minorca chickens look strange – they ’ re by and large black, but with a white blot near the ears. They ’ re an previous engender, and have grey legs. Minorcas are named after its home of origin : island of Minorca, off the slide of Spain. They lay about 200 white eggs per year, and the hens don ’ t tend to go brood hen. This hardy breed does well in warm climates, so it ’ s a beneficial option if you live in a affectionate area .
You can purchase this breed at Cackle Hatchery and Strombergs Chickens .
White Faced Black Spanish
These chickens look odd – they ’ ra black, except for their side, which is white. While english speakers call this ancient breed “ white faced black Spanish, ” in their native Spain, they ’ rhenium referred to as “ Española Cara Blanca. ” Their white faces give them a look like to a mimic. They are prolific egg layers of white eggs .
You can purchase this breed at Purely Poultry, McMurray Hatchery, and Cackle Hatchery .
Langshan
This black engender originates from China and is named after it ’ south position of origin : a district along the Yangtszekiang River. It ’ s a unique looking breed of dame – like cochins, it has feathered legs ! They ’ rhenium audacious birds that lay large brown eggs – some say they ’ re ampere dark as Marans eggs. The hens don ’ t tend to go broody. They ’ re besides boastfully, and with brilliantly, intelligent eyes, they ’ re a big accession to any flock .
You can purchase this breed at McMurray Hatchery and Tangled Wood Farm Miniatures
Svarthöna
This breed has a alone trait – their identical iniquity red comb that about look black ! They have black skin and are said to have descended from chickens from Mozambique and brought to Scandinavia in the 1700s. They are hardy and good foragers, even though they ’ re not great layers. You can expect 2 to 3 cream-colored eggs per workweek .
You can purchase this breed at Purely Poultry and My Pet Chicken .
Castellana Negra
This breed is a mediterranean character from Spain and is one of the oldest strains of domestic fowl in Europe. presently, it ’ sulfur condition is threatened, and the breed is on the scepter of extinction. It is besides believed that it is the ancestor of many european black breeds such as Minorcas and Black Spanish chicken breeds. They have decent lay abilities – you can expect about 250 eggs per class .
Black Chicken Breeds with Feathered Feet
- Langshan
- Cochins
- Silkies
- Black Copper Marans
Which black chicken breed is your favorite ? Leave a comment below !
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