Ayam Cemani : The Devil’s chicken?

As dramatic as it sounds, this is not the devil’s pet chicken. It could although, help you connect with the nether world – if one were to go by the beliefs in certain South East Asian regions. Who could refute that claim? One look at the bird is enough to convince you that it probably has a direct hotline to the Devil himself, the inky blackness having taken over its very soul – making no attempt at concealing the all-consuming evil that lurks within. The Indian God of Death Lord Yama is often pictured atop a black water buffalo – this ‘black bird’ might have well been the perfect accomplice for him, if one were to think of it

Say a polite hello to the ‘Ayam Cemani’ – a designer breed of chickens whose name literally translates to ‘completely black chicken’ in Indonesian/ Javanese. This frightful looking chicken is entirely black. Feathers, eyes, beak, tongue, toes, meat, bones, internal organs – all of it is black. The only exception is it’s blood, which is not black – but very dark.

This chicken, often referred to as the ‘Lamborghini of chickens’ is considered quite special among the Indonesians. This super breed once used to grace the courts of rulers and elites, and was not usually eaten, as the regular chicken is. The colour afforded it special status, and it was used only for special rituals and such. Today, believers offer the black bird as a sacrifice to the spirits when they embark on life events of importance. The idea is to appease the spirits by offering something they’ll appreciate, so that they in turn significantly contribute to the success of the endeavour – or at the very least, not get in the way of it. The black colour of the bird is attributed to excess pigmentation of the tissues, caused due to a genetic condition called fibromelanosis.

The Cemani is thought to have originated in Indonesia, and was possibly brought over to Europe by Dutch seamen. While it is native to Indonesia, it is seen to have significant demand in many parts of the world. While direct imports to many countries are banned due to the avian flu scare, these chickens are being bred and traded in by enthusiasts and farmers alike. The cost of such chickens is no joke though – A pair of chicks sell for well over two thousand US dollars! One does need to exercise caution while purchasing these though. The high demand and the costs involved have also encouraged many Internet scams. People buying ‘supposed’ Cemani eggs (which are brown/ cream like regular eggs) off the Internet very often find that they’ve been duped only when they hatch into regular chickens. These are obviously bred specifically to be sold at such high prices, and often sacrificed for some darker cause – so if you catch them giving you a black look, don’t blame them for it.

These rare birds are coveted by collectors today, and are considered to be a prize possession even in several countries. It certainly does make for a captivating sight, with a dark sheen on the feathers.

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