Ayam Cemani Chicken

Who is the rarest and most sought after chicken breed on the planet?…Ayam Cemani Chickens of course! They originate in Indonesia and have most everything black; feathers, skin, comb and wattles, flesh, organs, black bones and all…wow! This makes this chicken breed one of the most beautiful chickens on the planet, hailing them as “The Lamborghini of Poultry.” We like to think of them as a gothic and cool/hip chicken breed that are also beneficial!

In Indonesia, they are known for their mystical healing powers due to their black hyper-pigmentation. Ayam Cemani is a melanistic breed, which means an overdevelopment of melanin. Their ink-black feathers shimmer with a metallic sheen of beetle green and purple. The Ayam Cemani are friendly birds, and the hens lay about 60 to 80 cream-colored eggs their first year, after that it can increase to 60-120. A typical laying cycle lasts for about 20 to 30 eggs, then the hen will stop laying for three to six months.  They are a real eye candy here on the farm, and definitely are higher up in the flock hierarchy. They are an intelligent breed, ours coming up to us begging for attention, treats, or just company. They are typically easy going and some of our hens have been excellent mothers to their offspring. We would say they do well in all temperatures, thriving more in hotter climates –  cold protection of the combs and wattles is strongly recommended and if you chose supplemental heat in the winter. Since our stock is acclimated to the Vermont climate they do well in all temperatures.

In addition, our stock is the result of many years of selective breeding and  occasional introduction of quality Ayam Cemani from breeders across the country, one is Daylily Acres a local breeder. We work to produce birds with straight combs, high fibro showing, and a gamier appearance.  Our breeding program strives to produce birds that meet the proposed standard of perfection as described by the Ayam Cemani Breeders Association.  Having said that, there may be birds that grow out with imperfections.  We can’t guarantee a perfect bird ever!

It is also important to understand that not all Ayam Cemani offspring grow up to be solid black, even with solid black parents. We cannot guarantee the distribution of black pigment in some the offspring you receive as each chick will turn out different. Our breeding program is in process so we are always perfecting our flock and working towards the working Standard. We are part of the Ayam Cemani Breeders Association and do our best to follow the guidelines. This takes time and lots of hard work. A few babies have, like we said above, possible white nails and toes (this can go away as they get older).

Sugar-Feather is member of the following groups:

Ayam Cemani Breeders Association

National Poultry Improvement Plan

The Livestock Conservancy