Black Chickens – 19 Black Chicken Breeds and How to Choose the Best One for You

Introduction

Some black chickens have black feathers, others have black skin and beaks, and some special breeds have black bones, skin, muscles, and even a black heart. In Asia, black chicken meat and stew is thought of as a delicacy with medicinal properties. The black chicken was introduced from Asia to Europe and Africa through trade routes like the Silk Road, where they found favor among royalty and rich merchants. Black roosters were seen as a status symbol and became associated with good fortune.

Whether you are looking for a royal delicacy, or simply the strong beauty of a black chicken with a glossy green tint on your backyard farm or homestead, we’ve got you covered with 19 black chicken breeds plus a guide on choosing the right one for you.

Ancona Chicken

• Known for: being excellent egg layers and good dual-purpose black chickens
• Appearance: black feathers with white molted tips and yellow skin
• Temperament: quick, alert, active, and can quickly run from predators which makes them good free-rangers
• Eggs: 220 extra-large white eggs each year
• Meat: good—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 6 lb males and 4.5 lb females
• Climate: excellent heat tolerance and good cold tolerance
• Broodiness: Anconas are not likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: Italy and the Mediterranean
• Price: about $5 each for unsexed chicks

Australorp Black Chicken

• Known for: best light brown egg layer of any heavy breed, excellent backyard chicken
• Appearance: glossy black feathers with a greenish-purple sheen, large red combs, white skin, and black legs
• Temperament: gentle, quiet, docile, and handle confinement well—an excellent choice for small yards, new chicken owns, and families with children
• Eggs: 250-300 large brown eggs each year
• Meat: good—Australops are large birds that reach maturity at 20 weeks with 8 lb males and 5.5 lb females
• Climate: good heat tolerance and excellent cold tolerance
• Broodiness: not likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: Originated from Australia and developed from Black Orpington chickens
• Price: about $3.50 each for unsexed chicks

Ayam Cemani Chicken

• Known for: expensive all-black chicken with black feathers, organs, skin, and bones, used for medicinal and religious purposes
• Appearance: the Ayam Cemani is completely black inside and out
• Temperament: relative calm, gentle chickens, hardy, low maintenance, and easy to handle
• Eggs: 60-100 large cream-colored eggs each year
• Meat: good—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 5 lb males and 4 lb females
• Climate: excellent heat tolerance and good cold tolerance
• Broodiness: occasionally to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: Indonesia
• Price: about $99 each for unsexed chicks

Black Shumen Chicken

• Known for: rare and ancient breed
• Appearance:  black with a greenish sheen; it has a single comb, white skin, and red earlobes
• Temperament: characteristics of a primitive breed like hardiness in different habitat conditions, being an economical eater, and a vital and active bird with low body weight
• Eggs: 160 small greyish-colored eggs each year
• Meat: good—reaches maturity at 18 weeks with 5.5 lb males and 3.5 lb females
• Climate: good heat tolerance and excellent cold tolerance
• Broodiness: rarely go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: Bulgaria
• Price: sold only in Bulgaria

Breda Chicken

• Known for: dual-purpose heritage breed with striking looks and an adorable temperament
• Appearance: black feathers with white molting on the tips, instead of a comb they have a short, tufted crest
• Temperament: calm, gentle, good with kids, and good free-rangers as they can quickly escape predators
• Eggs: 180 white eggs each year
• Meat: good—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 6.5 lb males and 5 lb females
• Climate: good heat tolerance and excellent cold tolerance
• Broodiness: not likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: the Netherlands
• Price: about $14 each for unsexed chicks

Cochin (Pekin) Chicken

• Known for: their fluffy feathers head to toe that gives them a large bulk appearance and makes them excellent exhibition chickens and also good dual-purpose egg and meat birds, their friendly disposition makes them a good choice for new chicken owners, and families with children
• Appearance: abundant black feathering, with a red comb, yellow skin, and feathered feet
• Temperament: calm, friendly, and mellow
• Eggs: 180 medium brown eggs each year
• Meat: excellent—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 11 lb males and 8.5 lb females
• Climate: good heat tolerance and better cold tolerance
• Broodiness: very likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: China, originally called the Shanghai
• Price: about $4 each for unsexed chicks

Crevecoeur Chicken

• Known for: the oldest standard chicken breed in France translated “The Broken Heart” because of the lack of fertility in that region of France
• Appearance: all black feathering, with a tall feathered crest, and grey feet
• Temperament: peaceful, docile, easy-going, and handle confinement well
• Eggs: 120 medium white eggs each year
• Meat: poor—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 8 lb males and 6.5 lb females
• Climate: excellent heat tolerance and poor cold tolerance
• Broodiness: not likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: Crèvecœur en Auge in Normandy, France
• Price: about $6.50 each for unsexed chicks

Java Chicken

• Known for: a heavy, dual-purpose chicken that is the second oldest breed in America
• Appearance: all black with a dark green sheen, red comb, and waddle, and yellow legs
• Temperament: docile, calm, and make good foragers need less supplemental feed
• Eggs: 150-180 large brown eggs each year
• Meat: good—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 9.5 lb males and 7 lb females
• Climate: excellent heat tolerance and cold tolerance
• Broodiness: not likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: began from Asian origins, then was the second oldest breed in America—it is the ancestor of the Jersey Giant, Plymouth Rock, and Rhode Island Red chickens
• Price: about $5 each for unsexed chicks

Jersey Giant Chicken

• Known for: among the heaviest of all chicken breeds, calm demeanor even in roosters, and a good dual-purpose meat and egg chicken
• Appearance: one of the largest chickens, all-black feathering with a deep green gloss, yellow skin, and red combs and wattles
• Temperament: a docile, mellow bird that is friendly to chickens and humans alike
• Eggs: 150-200 large brown eggs each year
• Meat: excellent—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 13 lb males and 10 lb females
• Climate: good heat tolerance and excellent cold tolerance
• Broodiness: somewhat likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: developed by crossing several large Asian chickens in New Jersey in the late 19th century
• Price: about $4 each for unsexed chicks

Kadaknath Chicken

• Known for: an Indian chicken known for its adaptability and grey/black meat with medicinal properties
• Appearance: a grey/black color inside and out, including skin, meat, and organs
• Temperament: gentle and docile
• Eggs: 80 small cream eggs each year
• Meat: good—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 4 lb males and 3 lb females
• Climate: excellent heat tolerance and good cold tolerance
• Broodiness: very likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: India
• Price: about $2500 for a pair of pullets

La Fleche Chicken

• Known for: La Fleche translates to “the arrow” in french, named for its unique v-shaped comb and white earlobes, a good dual-purpose chicken
• Appearance: black feathering with a unique v-shaped comb and white earlobes
• Temperament: flighty, active, good forager, resists being tamed
• Eggs: 180 extra-large white eggs each year
• Meat: good—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 8 lb males and 6.5 lb females
• Climate: excellent heat tolerance and poor cold tolerance
• Broodiness: not likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: France
• Price: about $25 each for unsexed chicks

Langshan Chicken

• Known for: very nice glossy black show birds that are gentle, and lay large brown eggs even through winter
• Appearance: pure glossy black with red combs and waddles
• Temperament: calm, docile, inquisitive, and friendly—a good large bird for beginners
• Eggs: 200 medium brown eggs each year
• Meat: good—reaches maturity at 22 weeks with 9.5 lb males and 7.5 lb females
• Climate: good heat tolerance and excellent cold tolerance
• Broodiness: often don’t go broody until the spring and are not very determined mothers
• Origin: Asia
• Price: about $5 each for unsexed chicks

Orpington Chicken

• Known for: excellent dual-purpose chickens that are the friendliest in the flock
• Appearance: full black plumage with a vivid green sheen, and a red comb and wattle, you can also purchase as black/lavender split chicks that will produce some lavender, some black, and some mixed color offspring
• Temperament: good-natured, docile, not aggressive, happy to be handled, and wonderful with children
• Eggs: 120-200 large brown eggs each year
• Meat: excellent—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 10 lb males and 8 lb females
• Climate: good heat tolerance and excellent cold tolerance
• Broodiness: extremely likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: Kent, UK
• Price: about $20 each for unsexed chicks

Minorca Chicken

• Known for: largest and heaviest of the Mediterranean breeds
• Appearance: long angular birds with feathers held closely to their bodies, black feathers with a green sheen, red comb and wattle, and white earlobes
• Temperament: flighty, noisy, curious, good foragers, and alert for predators
• Eggs: 120 extra-large white eggs each year
• Meat: poor—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 9 lb males and 7.5 lb females
• Climate: excellent heat tolerance and poor cold tolerance
• Broodiness: not likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: Spain
• Price: about $4 each for unsexed chicks

Silkie Chicken

• Known for: puffy hair-like feathers, excellent mothers, and very friendly personalities
• Appearance: they are little bundles of puffy hair-like feathers that are black with a mulberry-colored comb, face, and wattles. The ear lobes are a light turquoise blue, and the skin is dark bluish/black.
• Temperament: one of the friendliest, docile, loving breeds you can find
• Eggs: 100 small white eggs each year
• Meat: poor—reaches maturity at 19 weeks with 2.5lb males and 2lb females, though they are known for their black skin and meat that Asian cultures consider medicinal
• Climate: excellent heat tolerance and good cold tolerance
• Broodiness: perhaps the broodiest of all chickens, they go broody often, and are extremely determined mothers
• Origin: China and Japan
• Price: about $3.50 each for unsexed chicks
• Read our Complete Guide for Silkie Chicken Care

Sumatra Chicken

• Known for: rare and ornamental Heritage breed of chicken with long lustrous feathers that are best left to free-range
• Appearance: long graceful tails that are black with a green sheet, and all-black skin with a small red wattle and comb
• Temperament: active, alert, very flighty and jumpy, does not do well in confinement, not as friendly, and a little nervous
• Eggs: 100 small white eggs each year
• Meat: poor—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 5 lb males and 4 lb females
• Climate: excellent heat tolerance and good cold tolerance
• Broodiness: not likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: the island of Sumatra in southeast Asia
• Price: about $5 each for unsexed chicks

Svart Hona Chicken

• Known for: prolific all-black Swedish egg layers who are excellent foragers
• Appearance: eyes, comb, wattles, feathers, legs, and even bones are all black
• Temperament: very flighty, and good foragers and alert to predators, friendly and laidback
• Eggs: 250 large cream-colored eggs each year
• Meat: poor—reaches maturity at 24 weeks with 7.5 lb males and 5 lb females
• Climate: good heat tolerance and excellent cold tolerance
• Broodiness: likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: Sweden
• Price: about $100 each for unsexed chicks

Valdarno Chicken

• Known for: fast-growing dual-purpose chicken that makes a good forager and excellent mother
• Appearance: black chicken with white earlobes, huge red single comb and wattles, and slate-dark legs
• Temperament: active, alert, good free rangers
• Eggs: 180-200 medium white eggs each year
• Meat: good—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 6 lb males and 4.5 lb females
• Climate: poor cold tolerance and good cold tolerance
• Broodiness: likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: only available in Italy

White-Crest Black Polish Chicken

• Known for: puffy feather crest on top of their heads, and a very cuddly but anxious and timid personality, entertaining to watch
• Appearance: black neck and breast contrast with its crest head plumage, which is white with a few black feathers, white skin, and slate blue legs
• Temperament: anxious and loving, easily picked on by other breeds
• Eggs: 200 medium white eggs each year
• Meat: poor—reaches maturity at 20 weeks with 6 lb males and 4.5 lb females
• Climate: Excellent heat tolerance and poor cold tolerance
• Broodiness: not likely to go broody and sit on their eggs
• Origin: Holland
• Price: about $6 each for unsexed chicks
• Read our Complete Guide for Polish Chicken Care

Common Questions About Black Chickens

How do I Choose the Best Black Chicken Breed for my Flock?

With all these options, you may be wondering which is the best black chicken for your flock. If you want a truly black chicken with black meat, organs, and skin, we recommend the adorable Silkie chicken who makes an excellent mother and will be the best organic incubator for eggs of many breeds and species. The Silkie is also much more affordable compared to the other breeds of all-black chickens.

If you’re looking for good black dual-purpose meat and egg bird that is excellent with children, we recommend the Black Australorp which can lay up to 300 eggs per year, or a Black Orpington who has a lower egg yield of up to 200 per year but is more likely to be a good mother and hatch eggs for you.

If you’re looking for a good black meat bird, we recommend the Jersey Giant that matures at 10-13 pounds or the Cochin Chicken the matures at 8.5-11 pounds. Both of these large breeds are very friendly, docile, and calm.

If you are looking for a good foraging black chicken that is family-friendly, you might consider the Breda chicken. The Breda is calm, gentle, good with kids, and is a good free-rangers as they can quickly escape predators.

Why are Black Chickens so Expensive?

Because all-black chickens are rare, they are more likely to be expensive. This is particularly true of the black chicken varieties that are black inside and out. The Indonesian Ayam Cemani and the Swedish Svart Hona chickens go for $100 for one unsexed chick, and the Kadaknath for $2500 for a pair of pullets!

What Color Eggs do Black Chickens Lay?

Contrary to what you might think, black chickens do not lay black eggs. Instead, they lay white, cream, or brown eggs depending on their breed.

What do Black Chickens Taste Like?

Black chickens that are black only on the outside and have yellow or white skin taste just like normal chicken. Chickens that are black inside and out, including their organs, bones, and meat, taste much stronger and are said to carry medicinal properties in their native cultures.

What about you, do you own any black chickens, or have you tasted black chicken meat? Let us know what your experience has been.

Ready to learn more about chickens? Read our Complete Guide to Taking Care of Chickens + 9 Beginner Mistakes to Avoid.