Goth Chicken Is Completely Black from Its Feathers to Its Bones
By Sara Barnes
February 2, 2017
To call the Ayam Cemani the world’s most unique chicken is an understatement. The black chicken isn’t just dark, but it’s entirely black—down to its bones! Indigenous to Indonesia, these Goth fowls’ internal organs and muscles are also inky-colored. It’s eggs, however, are a pleasant shade of cream.
So, how does this occur? According Paul Bradshaw of Greenfire Farms—a noted Ayam Cemani breeder—this blackness is caused by genetics. “The mutation,” Bradshaw explained to Gizmodo, “produces about ten times as much melanin [black pigment] as you’ll find in a normal chicken.” As a result, the Ayam Cemani’s feathers shine with iridescent greens and purples for a “riveting” effect.
Thanks to the black chicken’s striking appearance, it has an otherworldly appeal. Centuries ago, the Indonesian Island of Java kept the birds as part of rituals. They were given a spiritual status and thus, never eaten.
Read more at:
http://mymodernmet.com/ayam-cemani-black-chicken/
