AYAM CEMANI
An amazing unique bird that is an ultra-rare must have. In a photograph, the Ayam Cemani is like stepping into the dark side of poultry on a Halloween night. Watching the sun dance off the natural oil in the Ayam’s black plumage is extraordinary magnificence. You will be memorized by the holographic shimmers of translucent luster of beetle greens and purples.
This ultra-rare chicken is known for being all black (black comb, waddles, black legs, toe nails, black beak, tongue, black muscle tissue, organs, and black bones. Thanks to their black color which absorbs sunlight, they do great in cold, harsh climates.
EGGS THEY GIFT
The only part of this bird that isn’t black is the eggs they gift. Eggs are a beautiful latte-colored. They lay in cycles of 30 days on and 60 days off which contributes to the scarcity of this bird.
PERSONALITY
They are an active breed that does well in cold climates. They are able to fly higher than other chicken breeds which helps them escape predators.
HISTORY
The Ayam Cemani originated on the island of Java, in Indonesia, and they’re prized for their black meat mystical powers, and are an important part of traditional culture there. They are often used in opening ceremonies to offer good fortune. ADutchman, Jan Steverink first imported the Ayam Cemani out of Indonesia to Europe in 1998. Since then, it has been imported to the United States. In 2011, a Sweden study concluded a gene called endothelian-3 (EDN3), was involved in the regulation of melanocyte cells which produce pigments. Researchers found around 10 times as much EDN3 expressed in the skin of adult Ayam Cemani chickens than in other breeds. The bottom line is that in these breeds of chickens, the gene that regulates pigmentation is in overdrive in the Ayam Cemani, resulting in the black coloring.
The goal for rare breed enthusiasts is to improve the breed to have offspring consistently completely black. We have enriched our flock of Ayam Cemanis over the years by only using the blackest parent stock. We made significant progress over the years improving the Ayam Cemani breed from the original imperfections occurring in Greenfire farms imported bloodlines that contained mostly flesh and white toes and white wing tip. Not every purebred Ayam Cemani posses show quality traits. While our flock is known for their exceptionally black features, specifically the genetic trait of fibro melanosis, it is important to understand the fibro melanosis gene is a recessive trait. Part of the rarity is perfecting the distribution of the black pigment in their offspring.
As we continue to improve the breed for the blackest color as possible. The quality of the chicks differentiate as does pricing. You can save money on this rare breed by accepting chicks as 'Color Leakage Visible' They are still a rare pure breed and a treasure to own, but would be disqualified in showing due to not being 100% black. This could mean a toe, toe nail, inside of mouth, a feather mis-coloration, comb, ect. Common color leakage color is white or gold.
The selection of 'Minimal Color leakage" means no noticeable white in wing feathers, however, may have flesh color leakage in tongue, mouth, toes, and comb.
If you plan to breed or show, it is recommended to select from "no visible color leakage" birds.
'No Color Leakage Visible' indicates that in our inspection the bird has no noticeable leakage as a chick and will be an excellent candidate for improving the Ayam Cemani in a breeding program. Chicks from this group has won ribbons at the Western Stock Show and typically do well in show, however, not everyone will be a blue ribbon winner. There is no guarantee on how the color will remain as the chick grows (access to sunlight is important to maintain darkness). There are no refunds nor store credit for quality of color, thus do not accept the bird if at pick up you are not completely satisfied with the color quality.
SEXING METHODS
Several communities have laws in which roosters are not allowed. The sex of an Ayam is not reliably identifiable by external characteristics until mature. Vent sexing is more difficult due to the blackness of the vent. Thus, standard is to offer as an unsexed straight run. To assist city families, we offer with your choice of female coverage or DNA sexed.
