Ayam Cemani
We are passionate and dedicated breeders of Ayam Cemani chickens. At first glance, Ayam Cemani may look like ordinary black chickens, but a closer look will show that the Ayam Cemani is black through and through - meat, bones, mouth, feathers, and skin. The extreme black pigmentation is due to a genetic mutation called fibromelanosis that happened among their ancestors in Indonesia.
Due to the genetic mutation, breeding Ayam Cemani for that completely black coloration provides quite the challenge and keeps us on our toes. Currently, the Ayam Cemani is not a recognized breed by the American Poultry Association, but we hope that will change soon.
Unlike many keepers who breed to "flip" Ayam Cemani to make a buck due to the rarity of the breed, we are active members of the Ayam Cemani Breeders Association and work towards the proposed Standard of Perfection.
Before we started breeding Ayam Cemanis, we purchased hatching eggs and chicks from over a dozen breeders to evaluate the stock available. Through our experience with a large variety of Ayam Cemani and genetic research, we were able to get a good handle on the different genetics, how they grow out, and how they show flaws.
Our chosen breeders come from beautiful blood lines and do not have comb sprigs, short legs, or fat wide bodies that are common among U.S. Ayam Cemani. However, no Ayam Cemani is perfect and our breeders are included!
When breeding, our priorities are currently in choosing for pigment expression and body type. As mentioned on our Ethical Poultry statement, we do not kill our culls and do sometimes have pet quality birds available.
As there is a lot of misinformation about this breed, please don't hesitate to contact us and ask any questions you may have.
With every Ayam Cemani purchase from us, we include a copy of the proposed Standard of Perfection and an informational packet from the Ayam Cemani Breeder's Association. We are always available for help and advice regarding this wonderful breed.
Hatching Eggs
Purchasing hatching eggs is a great way to add pure Ayam Cemanis to your flock at a fraction of the price. Not to mention, hatching your own eggs is always a fun and exciting process!
(Please note: Ayam Cemani eggs are a cream color - NOT black. The doctored images on social media are actually Cayuga duck eggs. Please be aware of any deceptive claims!)
There are cons that come with hatching your own eggs, of course. As mentioned, the Ayam Cemani's extreme black pigmentation is due to a genetic mutation and is not always 100% expressed. With hatching eggs, we cannot predict the level of fibromelanosis in the resulting chicks. Even with amazing breeders, a chick can hatch with a white toe tip.
If you wish to breed Ayam Cemani yourself, we recommend starting with at least 50 eggs or chicks to choose the top 5 (10%) when they are all grown for your program. Or better yet, purchase juvenile birds who have already been through the process of selection! (Believe it or not, its cheaper to buy a juvenile trio - I know from experience!)
Baby Chicks
We hatch baby chicks in the Spring and Fall, flock production permitting. Upon hatch, chicks are evaluated for health, vigor, and fibromelanosis expression. Any chicks exhibiting low vigor are separated, given special treatment, and placed in our egg/meat production flock.
While chicks may pass initial checks and show excellent type, we cannot guarantee their quality as adults. Any dedicated breeder will tell you that Ayam Cemani can grow into better fibro expression, but they can also grow out of it. Hens have a tendency to conceal flaws well, while roosters tend to give them away via mulberry combs, patchy foot pads, feather leakage, etc. as they mature.
If you need help evaluating the quality of your Ayam Cemani as they grow out, you are welcome to contact us for guidance. For fibro, you want to look at their skin, toe nails, inside their mouth, and their vents to check the level of pigmentation.
It is not possible for us to sex Ayam Cemani chicks, so you will receive straight run (unsexed) chicks. Avian DNA sex testing, using blood or feathers, is available through multiple labs, if you wish to test your purchased chicks or chicks hatched from eggs.
Juveniles
With Ayam Cemani, the further along they are, the fewer surprises you'll have. If you are looking to ensure that you do not purchase a rooster due to local regulations or want to add specific traits for your breeding program, Ayam Cemani juveniles are the way to go.
We are happy to work with you to choose the proper pullet or cockerel for your needs, when available. Please contact us to be placed on our waiting list.
Frequently Asked Questions
We occasionally receive questions from buyers interested in our Ayam Cemani, so we wanted to include them here.
Q: Are your Ayam Cemani test bred for two copies of the fibro gene?
Yes! All of our Ayam Cemani are test bred before entering our breeder program, even when we "know" that they are double copy carriers from within our own program. This creates a system of checks and balances to ensure that we maintain the best quality we can.
Q: What are you focusing on in your breeding program right now?
Some of our Ayam Cemani develop comb flop as they mature and this is a trait we're actively breeding out.
The top traits that we look for in selection outside of fibro are: tongue color (currently black ridge, working towards completely black), comb shape (upright and five points), body type (slimmer and gamier), and egg color (consistently cream).
Most of our Ayam Cemani have hard feathering, also known as bottle brush feathering, which we like but some breeders prefer a smooth satin feather.
Additional Photos of Our Ayam Cemani
To see more photos of our Ayam Cemani, please visit our Instagram where we post about them frequently!
