All Black Flock

[Mamatomany123]

They're absolutely GORGEOUS! What are they???

They're production blues. A mix of RIR and blue australorps

 

[Kajoda929]

I didn't even know those existed! That's so cool!

 

[Kajoda929]

A few updated pictures

 

[Chicalina]

they are beautiful!

I adore black chickens with green or purple sheening. It is just stunning. I have a black chick atm but because it is half silkie I think the colour will stay dull and matt, unfortunately.

If I chose to keep ducks again (won the lottery and bought a farm) I'd have a small flock of cayugas. Now they are the kings of the black bird world!

 

[Chookwagn]

You have a great looking flock there!

And I can see why you like them.... there is just something different and interesting about completely black chickens.

I just hatched a batch of chicks and 3 are yellow 3 are brown and 1 is black and the black one is definitely my fave

 

[Nigel27]

I’m also leaning towards an all black flock but with very limited selection in my isolated town, I’ll have to work w what I have. Which are four barred cockerels w black marbling, and three pure black hens all from a Cemani Roo and a mini barred hen. Apparently crossing these will produce 50/50 barred and black of either sex. My four cockerels have varying degrees of blackness, the ones w the most black feathers have the least black feet but also the most black marbling in their combs and the ones w lighter feathers have darker feet. I don’t know which ones to use to achieve pure black fastest. Does anyone know much about the fm gene and it’s dominance when mixed with the also dominant barring gene? Particularly pertaining to skin colour?

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I have always loved black, especially with just a splash of color, so when I was finally able to start getting my chicks(very recent) I decided to be very picky. I will be starting out with four to five initial pure breeds(all black with their gorgeous shines) and laying different colored eggs...I plan to cross certain ones to try for solid black colored egg layers, which I know will take many years of trial and error and perfecting, but I am curious...Has anyone else ever tried something similar?

I didn’t try this and don’t have this 100% but I am very close just by chance. I have a flock of nine and they are 3 different breeds and I have 3 of each breed. I have three Black: Lavender Orpingtons which are now solid black with a neat green sheen. They had a little splash of lavender on their chests and in the vent and tail feather areas when they were younger. They are all 17 weeks now. I have next Swedish Flower Hens which two of the three one is black with only gray and white spots. She almost looks like a speckled Sussex from a distance. From a good distance she is so dark she looks solid black. The next one is dark gray with lots of black feathering and then white mixed in. My other hen is very white in that trio. Then I have Creme Legbars And they look like pheasant or quail but are very dark and look black at a distance or on a game or trail, or security cameras but beautiful birds no less. If you like black birds I recommend the Black:Lavender Orpingtons called the Black: Lavender Orpington-Split from the hatchery. It’s the way they are bred and it has to do with their outcomes and you will insure they have that neat green sheen which in these big beautifully feathered black birds is very pretty and when they are healthy birds and well taken care of and fed well etc., you will be proud of. They are something to behold if you are a chicken lover. I think.

 

[Japetus]

This is my new addition to my black flock..
A friend of mine has given me a couple of months ago a dozen barnyard mix eggs and one of them hatched to a gorgeous all black frizzle pullet with a funny hairdo.
Unfortunately the photo below is quite bad and doesn't do her justice.
Can't wait to experiment crossbreeding her with my ayam cemani.

 

[Kajoda929]

Does anyone know much about the fm gene and it’s dominance when mixed with the also dominant barring gene? Particularly pertaining to skin colour?

I don't, but I wouldbe curious to know as well

 

[Nigel27]

We will find out with these guys, I’ll breed both the first and second to the third one. The Cockerel in the first pic has darker skin but lighter feathers and second has yellower skin and darker feathers