The decorative Ayam Cemani chicken, with its coal-black plumage, comes with a staggering price tag.

Ornamental chickens are incredibly eye-catching, but none seem to surprise as much as the Ayam Cemani. It is one of the most expensive and rarest representatives of its family, and the broth made from its meat is a delicacy affordable only to the wealthy and, let’s be frank, extravagant. What characterizes the Ayam Cemani chicken? How much does it cost?

[Photo: Legendofgao, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]

Chickens are not just farm birds. Many breeds are raised for their striking appearance, as ornaments for the backyard garden. The Silkie chicken, Chabo, Sebright, Cochin, or Serama — each of these feathered creatures is characterized by a remarkable appearance, but none surprises as much as the Ayam Cemani. Seeing this extraordinary chicken in person, one rubs their eyes in amazement. And no wonder, because we are talking about the most extraordinary breed.