Ayam Cemani: A Rare Chicken Breed That is Black Inside Out

Aug 26, 2014 18 comments

Black is not an uncommon color in the animal world; bears are black, gorillas are black, there are breeds of dogs and cats that are black. But this Indonesian chicken breed known as Ayam Cemani takes ‘black’ into an entirely different realm. The black color of Ayam Cemani is not limited to its feathers – the color is all over and even on the inside. Everything about this chicken is black – skin, beak, plume, tongue, legs, toe nails, even its meat, bones, and organs. Even bone marrow is black. Their blood, although not black, is very dark colored. Ayam Cemani is so spectacular and exotic that it is referred to as the “Lamborghini of poultry.”

The word ‘Ayam’ means ‘chicken’ in Indonesian, and ‘Cemani’ translates to ‘completely black’ in Javanese. This exotic breed originated from Java in Indonesia. They were introduced to Europe in 1998 by a Dutch breeder, where they drew considerable interest amongst poultry enthusiasts due to its looks and genetic make up. Ayam Cemani is one of the most expensive chickens in the world with a single bird costing up to $2,500.

ayam-cemani-1

Ayam Cemani get their black coloring from a generic trait known as ‘fibromelanosis’, that promotes the proliferation of black pigment cells. The gene that causes fibromelanosis is a mutation that existed in Asia more than 800 years ago. The mutation made its way to other chicken variety, such as the Swedish Black Hen, or Svart Hona, which has the same fibromelanistic traits as the Ayam Cemani, and hence, as black as the Indonesian breed.

In Asia, Ayam Cemani are highly regarded because their meat is believed to have mystical powers. Their meat is thought to be higher in Iron, therefore beneficial to women before and after childbirth. Birds are sometimes sacrificed during childbirth believing fortune will come to the labouring mother. The chicken is also sacrificed on other special occasions, as it is thought to bring luck. Some Asian people believe that eating this chicken will ease their conscience, and their crowing brings prosperity.

The chicken lays cream-colored eggs – the only part of Ayam Cemani that is not black. However, being poor sitters, they don’t roost and therefore the only way to hatch eggs is to incubate.

Also see: Ready to Cook Featherless Chicken

ayam-cemani-7

ayam-cemani-2

ayam-cemani-3

ayam-cemani-4

ayam-cemani-5

ayam-cemani-6

ayam-cemani-8

Sources: Wikipedia / Green Fire Farms / Chicken Hill [via Lost At E Minor]

Comments

  1. No point in asking dark meat or white with this bird. lol

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's all regular cemani chicken, many cemani like that can be found in my country. In Javanese, you can see rarest cemani. I believe you can't see that in other country.

    ReplyDelete
  3. could you please share which places i can see this cemani chicken in indonesia?
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should probably ask the local poultry farmers.

      Delete
    2. Just watch any stretch of road long enough....

      Delete
    3. cemani farms, 23/9 rock village- bandung, west java Indonesia 40500

      Delete
  4. I would love to own one. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Birds and chickens roost at night in trees or roost in a chicken house. Setting means that they sit on eggs to incubate. Not the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Should have said "brood" not "roost".

      Delete
  6. I have these, there are 4 different FM genes required on each chick to be that black. Most have "missing genes" and end up with a few white toenails, or white inside the mouth or just a white tongue. It's very hard to get them "perfect".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm finding that 'breeders' of these birds destroy all the ones with any white trait, including white tips on some feathers, this is why they are so rare and expensive. I have hatched some from different breeders and the majority come out with a bit of white, I do not destroy them though.

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Simply if you want to get a pair...! Just buy ticket from your country to my country (YOGYAKARTA - INDONESIA). Have nice trip yeay...!!!

      Delete
  8. Damn, when are "white" gonna learn the difference between skin color and hair color. Bears, with the exception of polar bears have white skin and a black or brown coat. Apes also have white skin and a brown, black, red or silver coat.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This Ayam Cemani or Cemani Chicken are reknowned as much for the mystical powers of their black meat as they are for their extraordinary ink-black feathers that shimmer with a metallic sheen of beetle green and purple. In some Asian especially Indonesia, the blackness of the meat and all of it is seen as a connection to the supranatural. Trusted as sacrifice to spirits. This is a #fact. The rare one is with the black blood..

    ReplyDelete
  10. Had one with white toenails never used eggs from this supplier again.

    Currently have 5 hens and 1 cockerel with no white whatsoever

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

More on Amusing Planet

{{posts[0].title}}

{{posts[0].date}} {{posts[0].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}

{{posts[1].title}}

{{posts[1].date}} {{posts[1].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}

{{posts[2].title}}

{{posts[2].date}} {{posts[2].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}

{{posts[3].title}}

{{posts[3].date}} {{posts[3].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}