Have you ever scrolled through social media and spotted a stunning photo of a jet-black chicken egg? Or maybe heard rumors about exotic black chicken breeds that produce these mysterious ebony eggs? I’ve been raising chickens for years and let me tell you – there’s a whole lot of confusion about black eggs out there!
In this article, I’m gonna clear up all the myths and reveal the surprising truth about black chicken eggs. Whether you’re a backyard chicken keeper, an egg enthusiast, or just curious about unusual poultry facts, you’ll discover everything you need to know about these elusive dark eggs.
The Surprising Truth: Can Chickens Lay Black Eggs?
Let’s cut right to the chase – no chicken breeds lay truly black eggs naturally. Despite what you might have seen online or heard from well-meaning friends, chickens simply cannot produce eggs with pitch-black shells.
As someone who’s been keeping chickens for years, I was initially disappointed when I discovered this truth. I had hoped my black Silkie might surprise me with an exotic black egg, but that’s just not how chicken genetics work.
Many claims about black chicken eggs you’ll find online are unfortunately:
- Photoshopped images
- Eggs that have been artificially dyed or painted
- Misleading marketing tactics
- Outright scams selling “rare black egg layers”
Black Chicken Breeds and Their Egg Colors
If any chickens could lay black eggs, you’d expect it to be the breeds that are completely black themselves, right? Let’s look at the most famous black chicken breeds and the actual color of eggs they produce:
| Chicken Breed | Appearance | Actual Egg Color |
|---|---|---|
| Ayam Cemani | Black feathers, skin, organs | Cream to tan |
| Kadaknath | Black skin and feathers | Creamy white with pinkish tint |
| Black Silkie | Black feathers and skin | White |
| Black Australorp | Black feathers | Light brown |
| H’Mong | Black feathers | Tan |
| Swedish Black | Black feathers | White to cream |
Ayam Cemani: The Blackest Chicken in the World
The Ayam Cemani from Indonesia is famous for being black from the inside out. Due to a genetic condition called fibromelanosis, these chickens have
- Black feathers
- Black skin
- Black meat
- Black internal organs
- Black bones
With all this blackness, you might expect black eggs too. But despite their unique appearance, Ayam Cemani hens lay cream to tan colored eggs! They’re also not prolific layers, producing only about 80 eggs per year.
Kadaknath: India’s Black Chicken
Similar to the Ayam Cemani, the Kadaknath chicken from India is another true black chicken breed with black meat and organs. However, their eggs are light brown with a pinkish tint – definitely not black. They’re slightly better layers than Ayam Cemanis, producing 120-130 eggs annually.
Almost Black: The Darkest Chicken Eggs
While no chicken lays truly black eggs, there is one breed that comes closest:
Black Copper Marans
Black Copper Marans are known for laying the darkest eggs of any chicken breed. Their eggs are a deep chocolate brown color that, in certain lighting, can appear almost black. However, they’re still definitely brown, not black.
The darkness of Marans eggs is measured on a scale of 1-9, with 9 being the darkest. The best Marans can achieve eggs rated 8 or 9 on this scale.
So What Birds DO Lay Black Eggs?
While chickens don’t lay black eggs, there are actually birds that produce eggs that appear black or very dark:
1. Emus
Emus, the second-largest bird in the world, lay eggs with a dark greenish-black appearance. These massive eggs:
- Stand about 5 inches tall
- Weigh equivalent to about a dozen chicken eggs
- Have a very dark green color that appears black from a distance
- Are valued for both eating and as decorative items
2. Cayuga Ducks
Cayuga ducks sometimes lay eggs with a black coating, especially early in their laying season. However:
- The black is actually a removable film on the outside of the egg
- This coating washes off easily
- As the season progresses, the eggs lighten to gray and then white
- The inside of the egg remains normal
The Black Eggs of Hakone, Japan
In Japan, there’s a famous tourist attraction featuring what appear to be black chicken eggs. These “kuro-tamago” or “magical black eggs” are:
- Regular chicken eggs boiled in sulfuric hot springs
- The iron in the sulfurous water turns the white shells black
- Only the outside of the shell becomes black
- The inside remains a normal hard-boiled egg
- Local legend says eating one adds seven years to your life
These eggs are sold at Owakudani (formerly known as Jigokudani or “Valley of Hell”), a volcanic region west of Tokyo. The eggs are boiled for an hour in 175°F sulfuric water, then for another 15 minutes at 212°F.
Why You Might Find a Black Egg in Your Coop
If you do happen to find what looks like a black egg in your chicken coop, it’s probably not a good thing. A black egg could indicate:
- Contamination from fungi or bacteria
- Blood mixing with the shell during formation
- A serious health issue with your hen
In these cases, you should discard the egg and keep an eye on your flock’s health.
Black Yolks: Another Mystery
Some people also ask about black egg yolks. If you crack an egg and find a black yolk, this is definitely not normal and not something to celebrate. A black yolk typically indicates:
- Spoilage
- Oxidation
- Possible bacterial contamination
These eggs should never be consumed!
The Bottom Line on Black Chicken Eggs
So there you have it – the truth about black chicken eggs:
- No chicken breeds naturally lay black eggs
- Even completely black chicken breeds lay cream, white, or brown eggs
- The darkest chicken eggs are chocolate brown (from Marans)
- Emus and Cayuga ducks are the only birds that come close to laying black eggs
- Any truly black chicken eggs you see are either dyed, photoshopped, or prepared in special conditions like the sulfur springs of Japan
I know it might be disappointing if you were hoping to add a black egg layer to your flock, but now you’re armed with the facts! The wonderful world of chickens is still full of amazing colors and varieties even without black eggs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do black chicken eggs taste different?
Since there are no naturally black chicken eggs, this question is moot. However, the sulfur-boiled black eggs of Japan taste like regular hard-boiled eggs.
Can I create a black egg-laying chicken through breeding?
Based on current genetics, this appears impossible. The genes that control eggshell color in chickens simply don’t allow for black pigmentation.
What’s the rarest egg color a chicken can lay?
The rarest natural egg colors from chickens are olive green (cross of brown and blue egg layers) and the darkest chocolate brown from Marans.
Are black eggs healthy to eat?
Naturally black eggs don’t exist in chickens. If you find a black egg in your coop, it’s likely contaminated and unsafe to eat.
Can I dye my chicken eggs black?
Yes, you can dye eggs black using food-safe dyes, but they won’t be naturally occurring black eggs.
So there you have it! The mystery of black chicken eggs solved. While we might not have chickens that lay black eggs, the variety of colors, patterns, and sizes of eggs from different chicken breeds is still pretty amazing. From blue to green to speckled to deep brown, there’s plenty of egg diversity to enjoy without the mythical black egg!
Do Emu Lay Black Eggs?
Okay, so an Emu isn’t a chicken and they may not make great pets (since they are exotic). But we are trying to find black eggs somewhere outside of Japan. So do Emu lay black eggs? Some sources say yes, but it appears that they do not.
Emu eggs are a neat blueish-green color (which is sometimes a dark enough emerald green that they appear almost black) and they have been all the craze from time to time. They can weigh up to 2 pounds and are known for being a culinary delicacy. Read about the craze egg here.
Black Eggs of Hakone’s Hell Valley
In Japan, there is a place called Hakone’s Hell Valley. It’s a volcanic valley heavily laden with sulfur. They boil eggs in the hot springs there and the naturally occurring sulfur colors the eggs charcoal black. And there you have it, naturally occurring black eggs. So, yes, there are all natural black eggs – but just not straight out of the chicken.
It’s more mysterious than that though. The Japanese believe that if you eat just one of these eggs you will add seven years to your life! Whoa. I’m not sure I believe it, but I think I’ll try hard to buy into this fountain of youth and see if I can find one (or two) of those charcoal black eggs for my birthday!
It’s a big tourist attraction in Japan, as you might expect with claims of prolonging your life. Even if it is extremely expensive to visit the valley, not to mention potentially dangerous due to active volcanic activity – it still may be worth going. It’s incredibly beautiful and welcoming.
Read all about it here.