Black chickens aren’t just eye-catching – they’re some of the most fascinating breeds in the poultry world. Their midnight feathers often hide surprising personalities, unusual egg colors, and remarkable histories.
Whether you’re a seasoned chicken keeper or just admiring from afar, these ebony beauties might just steal your heart.
1. Mystical Ayam Cemani
Imagine a chicken so black that even its internal organs share the same inky hue! The Indonesian Ayam Cemani possesses black feathers, skin, muscles, and bones due to a genetic condition called fibromelanosis.
Often fetching prices upward of $2,500, these rare birds were once believed to have mystical powers. Despite their intimidating appearance, they’re surprisingly gentle and curious birds.
2. Regal Australorp
Breaking world records seems to come naturally to these Australian beauties. An Australorp once laid 364 eggs in 365 days – talk about productivity! Their glossy black feathers shimmer with beetle-green iridescence in the sunlight.
Gentle giants of the chicken world, Australorps combine the perfect balance of meat production and egg-laying ability, making them ideal for backyard flocks.
3. Fluffy Silkie Bantam
Wrapped in what feels like silk, these puffballs sport black feathers that lack the typical barbicels that give feathers structure. The result? A furry appearance that’s irresistibly touchable!
Marco Polo reportedly discovered Silkies during his travels and described them as “chickens with fur like cats.” With five toes instead of the usual four, these peculiar birds often become family pets due to their docile temperament.
4. Statuesque Jersey Giant
Tipping the scales at up to 13 pounds, these gentle behemoths stand taller than most chickens you’ll ever meet. Despite their intimidating size, Jersey Giants are known for their remarkably mellow disposition.
Originally bred in New Jersey as an alternative to turkeys, these birds develop slowly but reward patience with impressive meat yield. Their feathers display a stunning beetle-green sheen when caught in just the right light.
5. Elegant Langshan
Sailing from China in the 1800s, these aristocratic birds quickly charmed European poultry enthusiasts with their distinctive V-shaped tails and long legs. Unlike many heavy breeds, Langshans remain excellent flyers.
Winter egg production is where these birds truly shine – they’ll keep laying when other breeds have stopped. Their feathers boast a remarkable glossy sheen that makes them stand out in any flock.
6. Mysterious Kadaknath
From the tribal regions of India comes a chicken so unique that its meat appears purple-black when cooked! Kadaknath chickens contain melanin in nearly every tissue, creating one of the most thoroughly black birds in existence.
Prized in Ayurvedic medicine for supposed aphrodisiac properties, these rare birds command premium prices. Their eggs feature light brown shells but contain less cholesterol than typical chicken eggs.
7. Crested Crevecoeur
Sporting a devilishly handsome V-shaped crest, these French aristocrats have been strutting around since the Middle Ages. Their name derives from the Norman town Crèvecoeur-en-Auge, where they originated.
Once served at royal banquets for their delicate meat, these birds nearly vanished after World War II. Modern breeders cherish them for their ornamental value and calm disposition, making them perfect exhibition birds.
8. Gorgeous La Flèche
Devil horns or chicken comb? La Flèche birds sport a distinctive V-shaped comb that earned them the nickname “Devil’s Bird” in medieval France. Their sleek, jet-black feathers perfectly complement their unusual headgear.
Prized by French chefs for centuries, these birds produce exceptionally white, tender meat. Despite their somewhat intimidating appearance, they’re known for being alert and active without being overly aggressive.
9. Miniature Modern Game
Runway models of the chicken world, these slender beauties stand tall on legs that seem impossibly long for their tiny bodies. Their upright posture and tight, glossy feathers create a striking silhouette unlike any other breed.
Originally bred for cockfighting, today’s Modern Games are purely ornamental. Their exaggerated features and intense personalities make them favorites at poultry shows, though they’re not typically known for being cuddly pets.
10. Spanish-Faced White Ear
What’s black and white and elegant all over? These striking birds feature contrasting snow-white facial skin against coal-black feathers – a look that’s impossible to ignore!
Dating back to the 1700s, they’re among the oldest Mediterranean breeds. Once known as the “Black Spanish,” these aristocratic birds were prized for their large white eggs and distinctive appearance, though their popularity has sadly declined in modern times.
11. Raven-Like Minorca
Ears the size of quarters? These Mediterranean natives sport enormous white earlobes that stand out dramatically against their glossy black feathers. Named after the Spanish island of Minorca, they’re heat-tolerant birds with a knack for foraging.
Laying some of the largest white eggs of any chicken breed, Minorcas were once America’s premier egg producers. Their tall stature and alert personality make them natural sentinels for any flock.
12. Exotic Indonesian Black
Jungle fowl with attitude! These rare birds carry themselves with the confidence of their wild ancestors, sporting glossy black plumage that helps them blend into forest shadows.
Indonesian Blacks produce unusually dark meat and richly flavored eggs. Their natural foraging ability makes them excellent free-range birds. Relatively unknown outside Southeast Asia, these birds maintain many primitive traits that have been bred out of commercial chickens.
13. Majestic Black Orpington
Feathered teddy bears might be the best description for these gentle giants. Their fluffy plumage makes them appear even larger than their already impressive size, creating walking puffballs of glossy black.
Developed in England during the 1880s by William Cook, these birds were bred to be dual-purpose while maintaining an attractive appearance. Their calm, friendly nature makes them perfect for families with children – many become as affectionate as pets!
14. Striking Black Copper Marans
Famous for laying eggs so dark brown they’re almost chocolate-colored, these French beauties combine practicality with stunning looks. Their black feathers feature copper highlights on the neck and saddle, creating a striking contrast.
Developed in the town of Marans, France, these birds gained popularity after appearing in James Bond novels as 007’s breakfast preference. Despite their somewhat aloof personality, they’re excellent free-range foragers with good predator awareness.