Ayam Cemani look-a-like?

[BellsCluckers]

So I traded one of my red star hens for this women's two roosters. She claims she got the black bird from a women in NY who said it was a Ayam Cemani, but it was not "perfect" because it wasn't completely black in the comb. I understand the origin and how much one of these pure birds could go for which is crazy! But I don't plan on really anything but free ranging him with my hens. I just wanted to see who could tell me if this is a cross breed that is a look a like or if this really is a Ayam not of good quality. Just interested in everyone's thoughts. His name is Shadow

 

[QueenMisha]

I would say Ayam Cemani crossbreed.

 

[drumstick diva]

x 2

 

[Peep-Chicken]

X3 how cool.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

On the flip side, it looks like some of the Silkie mixes I have running around in my yard....

 

[Michael OShay]

I would say Ayam Cemani crossbreed.

I agree.

 

[Pyxis]

Just out of curiosity, I'm wondering why everyone is immediately coming to the conclusion that it couldn't possibly be purebred. Is it because the breed is rare? Or is it because is has some mulberry in the comb and wattles?

The reason why I'm asking is because, as a breeder of these birds (and actually possibly this particular bird, I'm waiting to hear back from the OP on where in NY she got it) this could definitely be a purebred cemani, just a cull. It's not unusual for culls to have mulberry in the wattles and comb. Heck, when Greenfire Farm first posted pictures of their stock, in the background of one of the photos you could see a rooster with full on red in his wattles. Here's the picture, look at the bird in the back. It's also not uncommon for chicks to hatch, at this point in the breed's progress, with a white toenail or two and some pink on the toes. Those birds are culled from the flock.

This bird could easily be a cull that is purebred. If it's my bird, he was culled because he had some mulberry in his comb as a chick and I didn't want that in my breeding flock. He was given to a woman who desperately needed a friend for her single chick that she just hatched, with strict instructions that he was a cull and not to be sold for breeding (which it seems like she followed if this is that bird).

It's just kind of disheartening as a breeder to see what is possibly one of my purebred birds or a bird that looks just like one of my purebred culls would when grown up labeled as a crossbreed because people don't understand the breed and its current status in this country. Even Greenfire won't guarantee color on the birds they sell, and I know someone who's gotten birds from them that even grew up to have silver leakage in their feathers.

Just so no one thinks my birds are crossbreeds either, they came directly from Greenfire Farms and Tonie Marie lines, and my cock came from CJWaldon, who I believe got him straight from Tonie Marie before I bought him.

Anyway, not to write a book or anything, it just frustrates me that people don't understand the breed is a work in progress still and just because a bird isn't perfectly black doesn't automatically mean it's a crossbreed. Just to educate everyone a little

Edit: This is indeed a bird from my flock. He's a purebred