Black hens are not a rare species among yard birds, but they are of keen interest among amateur poultry farmers. Black plumage are chickens of several breeds - about them and tell in this article.
Australorp black
Meat-egg breed. A bird with a rounded physique and a broad, convex breast, with a wide and high tail. Plumage fluffy, black with emerald sheen. The legs are gray. 
Medium sized head with erect leaf-shaped comb, earrings and earlobes are colored red, eyes are dark chocolate, face red without feather and black small beak.
Important! The ability to carry eggs in the Australorp breed appears at the age of 135 days, but after two years of productivity decreases.
Australorp - a bird with a balanced and good-natured character: get along well with its neighbors, easily tolerate changes associated with the content. A distinctive feature of this breed is the ability of the bird to rush well even in the winter period.
The productivity of these chickens:
- annual egg production of poultry is up to 300;
- egg weight -55-62 g;
- high survival rate of young stock - 95%;
- chicken weight - up to 3 kg;
- rooster weight - up to 4 kg;
- the taste of poultry meat is high.
Did you know? Six Australorp chickens were able to set a team record: they demolished eggs in the amount of 1,857 pieces in one calendar year, and this figure was set without the use of artificial lighting!
Ayam Cementi
Decorative breed. Ayam cemeni - absolutely black color bird. Nothing stands out from the color range: a straight leaf-like comb, rounded earrings, eyes, tongue, meat and bones - everything is painted in a single color. 
The bird has a small narrow body, the chest is rounded, and the wings fit snugly to the body. High tail - lush, with long braids. The legs are long. The bird has a shy character, it easily panics: people do not trust people and tend to avoid contact with them. 
Productivity:
- rooster weight - up to 2 kg;
- chicken weight - up to 1.5 kg;
- low egg production - up to 100 pieces per year;
- average egg weight is 50 g;
- high survival rate - 95%;
- the taste qualities of eggs and meat are weak.
See also: Top 10 breeds of red chickens
Brahma black
Decorative and meat breed. A large-sized bird with a magnificent and beautiful plumage is standing on powerful feathered legs. The breast of the individual is wide. 
The character of Brahma is calm, a little phlegmatic. 
Productivity:
- rooster weight - up to 5.5 kg;
- chicken weight - up to 4.5 kg;
- beginning of laying - at the age of 8 months;
- egg production - up to 120 pieces;
- egg weight 55-60 grams.
Did you know? Differing in size and strength from other breeds of chickens, brahma is not afraid of medium-sized pets and feathered predators. In case of danger, representatives of the breed are able to protect themselves and their brood.
Dutch black crested
Decorative and egg breed. A graceful, small chicken with an unusual head: in the breed in question, the crest is completely absent, instead of it there is a high swelling on the skull, from which white feathers grow, forming a crest. 
The white crest falls on the head of the bird and forms a spherical shape; at the base of the beak, dark feathers grow, which fold into a pattern that resembles a butterfly in its shape. 
Productivity:
- cock weight does not exceed 2.5 kg;
- chicken weight does not exceed 2 kg;
- beginning of laying - at the age of 6 months;
- annual egg production is 140-100 pieces;
- egg weight - 40-50 grams.
Check out the Dutch breeds of chickens.
Dominant black
Egg cross. Layers with a massive body and short legs, because of the thick, voluminous plumage, they seem to be quite low. The head is small, decorated with a comb and earrings of rich red color. 
The nature of the hens is balanced and calm, they quickly get used to others.
Performance:
- cock weight does not exceed 3.5 kg;
- chicken weight - 2.5 kg;
- beginning of laying - at the age of 5 months;
- annual egg production - 310 pieces;
- egg weight - up to 70 grams.
In addition to black, the dominant crosses are blue, brown, sussex (white with black), leggorn (white).
Indian black fight
Fight breed. Bird with a large and wide body, strong legs apart. The head is small with a tiny comb and earrings, the neck is short and muscular. The tail is short, but very thick.
An active, quarrelsome and aggressive breed, lovers of dismantling, attack both the inhabitants of the house and the owners. 
Performance:
- cock weight does not exceed 5 kg;
- chicken weight - 3 kg;
- beginning of laying - at the age of 7 months;
- annual egg production - no more than 100 pieces;
- egg weight - up to 60 grams.
Read also about the fighting breeds of chickens with a bad character.
Spanish white-faced
Egg breed. It has a snow-white face and large white bows framed in dark feathers, a comb and earrings of bright red color. 
Bird with a flighty temper, shy, active and very noisy.
Productivity:
- cock weight does not exceed 3.5 kg;
- chicken weight - 3.5 kg;
- the beginning of laying - at the age of 8-9 months;
- annual egg production - no more than 200 pieces;
- egg weight - up to 60 grams.
Check out the selection of breeds and crosses of white chickens.
Black castellana
Meat-egg breed. The body of the bird is not wide, covered with black feathers. 
A short neck holds a small head with a beautiful red comb and small rounded ear rings, there is no feathering on the face - the skin is red, and white lobes stand out against its background. 
Productivity:
- cock weight does not exceed 3 kg;
- chicken weight - 2.3 kg;
- the beginning of laying - at the age of 4-5 months;
- annual egg production - 220 pieces;
- egg weight - 55-65 grams.
Find out what breeds of chickens can be blue.
Cochin Black
Meat breed. The Cochinquin are large and massive individuals with a muscular broad chest and a no less broad back and small head on a short, strong neck. 
Plumage is very fluffy, loose, which creates a feeling of sphericity of chickens. 
Productivity:
- rooster weight does not exceed 4.5 kg;
- chicken weight - 4 kg;
- the beginning of laying - at the age of 8-9 months;
- annual egg production - no more than 120;
- egg weight - up to 60 grams;
- meat quality is high.
It is interesting to get acquainted with the history of domestication of chickens, as well as collections of breeds: the most unusual, the largest, the most unpretentious, frost-resistant, with shaggy paws.
Langshan black
Meat breed. A bird with a long body, broad back and protruding chest. The head is small, rounded with a small leaf-like crest. Face, lobes and earrings - red. Plumage - has an emerald sheen, legs - high, strong. 
Productivity:
- cock weight does not exceed 4 kg;
- chicken weight - 3.5 kg;
- annual egg production - 110 pieces;
- egg weight - 55 grams;
- meat quality is high.
Learn all about the breed of chicken Langshan: how to breed, the pros and cons of the breed.
Minorca black
Meat-egg breed. An elegant-looking bird with a slight graceful head. Sheet-like comb with large teeth (in males standing upright, hanging down to the side of females), long earrings red, ear lobes painted white. Long torso with well developed wings, high strong legs. 
They have a calm, peace-loving character. 
Productivity:
- rooster weight does not exceed 4.2 kg;
- chicken weight - 3.5 kg;
- beginning of laying - at the age of 5 months;
- annual egg production - 140-170 pieces;
- egg weight - 60-80 grams;
- high taste qualities of eggs and meat.
Read more about the Minorca egg breed.
Moscow black
Meat-egg breed. A bird with an elongated body and a convex chest, well-developed muscles. Black plumage is diluted with splashes of yellow feathers. Roosters have a brighter coloration: golden feathers adorn the neck, shoulders and back. Plumage is dense, making it easy to endure harsh winters.
Important! In Moscow black chicken, the brooding instinct is very poorly developed.
The Moscow breed of chickens has a calm, balanced character, it is not demanding on the conditions of maintenance and components of the feed. 
Productivity:
- the weight of the chicken carcass in gutting - 2.5 kg;
- cock weight in gutted form -3.5 kg;
- high taste of meat;
- high egg production - up to 210 pieces per year;
- average egg weight - 60 g
In Moscow breed of chicken there is also a white color.
Orpington black
Meat-egg breed. Powerful and massive, covered with abundant and loose feathers, which visually makes them even bigger. Chickens with a small head, broad chest and back, short wings and tail. 
Orpingtons have a calm and peaceful nature, as well as strong maternal instincts. 
Productivity:
- Rooster weight does not exceed 5 kg;
- chicken weight - 3.5 kg;
- annual egg production - 160-180 pieces;
- egg weight - 62 grams;
- the taste of meat is high.
Read also about other breeds of hens with black plumage: Sumatra, Moravian black, Lyukedanji.
Russian black bearded (galan)
Meat-egg breed. Galan is a large, tall bird with a strong bone. The head is large, round, with a red face, a round beard frames the cheeks, closing the ear lobes and throat. 
Crest - wide, pinkish, small earrings of bright red color. Plumage Galan magnificent, dense. 
Productivity:
- rooster weight - up to 4 kg;
- chicken weight - 2-3.5 kg;
- the beginning of laying - at the age of 4-5 months;
- annual egg production - 150 pieces;
- egg weight - 45-60 grams.
More than seven hundred breeds of chickens are known in the world, and home variations without a certain kind are even greater. Each species is usually considered according to the main features (live weight, coloring of feathers and eggs, the shape of the ridge, egg production) and grouped according to them.
