Chicken is one of the most widely consumed meats globally, with Americans alone eating more than 90 pounds per person each year. But while your average grocery store chicken costs just a couple dollars per pound, some ultra-rare and exotic chicken breeds can fetch prices upwards of $2,500 for a single bird!
So what makes certain chickens so incredibly expensive compared to regular chickens? As you’ll see, factors like rarity, unusual looks, difficulty breeding, and specialty egg production all play a role.
If you’ve ever wondered what the priciest chickens in the world are keep reading to discover the top 10 most expensive chicken breeds and why they cost so much more than the chickens most people are used to.
10 Most Expensive Chicken Breeds
1. Ayam Cemani – $2,500
The Ayam Cemani is the most expensive chicken breed in the world, with prices ranging from $2,500 up to $5,000 per bird. Originating from Indonesia, these striking all-black chickens have black feathers, black beaks, black legs, black skin, and even black internal organs and bones due to a genetic condition called fibromelanosis.
In addition to their mystical allure, Ayam Cemanis are also rare outside of Indonesia and incredibly hard to breed Their rarity, combined with high demand from luxury chicken buyers, is why each Ayam Cemani commands such an astronomical price.
2. Kadaknath – $2,500
Native to India, the Kadaknath chicken is completely black, from its comb to its toes. Valued for its black bones and organs that are purported to have medicinal properties in Ayurvedic medicine, the Kadaknath is also prized for its delicious black meat. With such limited availability outside of India, this exotic chicken costs $2,500 or more.
3. Dong Tao – $2,000
The uniquely shaped Dong Tao chicken from Vietnam is sometimes called the “Dragon Chicken” due to its oddly large, muscular legs. Weighing up to 13 pounds, the Dong Tao is an impressive chicken revered for its tasty meat and status as a luxury food item. Priced at $2,000 and up, its scarcity outside of Vietnam drives up prices.
4. Swedish Black Hen – $100
Completely black like the Ayam Cemani, the Swedish Black hen originated as a Swedish landrace chicken. Because it shares the gene for fibromelanosis with the Ayam Cemani, it too has jet black feathers, skin, bones and organs. Swedish Blacks cost approximately $100, far less than Ayam Cemanis but still pricey.
5. Deathlayer – $250
Despite its macabre name, the Deathlayer chicken from Germany is prized for its stellar egg laying abilities, with hens laying up to 300 eggs annually. These productive chickens have a unique appearance with their lack of feathers on their necks and solid black eyes. A single Deathlayer hen costs around $250.
6. Svart Hona – $200
Svart Hona, meaning “black hen” in Swedish, is a landrace chicken from Sweden valued for its pure black feathers and skin. Though it originated from the same line as the Swedish Black hen, the Svart Hona is heavier at around 6.5 pounds. You’ll pay upwards of $200 for one of these gothic chickens.
7. Orust – $100
Hailing from the Swedish island of Orust, the Orust chicken is a beautiful black and white spotted hen known for high egg production. Their friendly personalities, combined with good cold hardiness and egg laying of 180-200 eggs per year, make Orust chickens a pricier addition to a flock at $100 each.
8. Olandsk Dwarf – $120
A true dwarf chicken breed from the Swedish island of Öland, the Ölandsk Dwarf is the smallest chicken in Sweden. Weighing less than 2.5 pounds, these petite chickens are adorable and lay a decent number of tiny cream-colored eggs. Their rarity and novelty push prices to around $120 per bird.
9. Pavlovskaya – $150
This rare Russian breed named after the town of Pavlovskaya is eye-catching with its large crest of feathers on top of the head and lacy plumage. The Pavlovskaya is critically endangered, pushing prices up over $150 for a hen. While not the best egg layers, they are great foragers.
10. Orpington – $175
Originating in England in the 1880s, the Orpington chicken is a large, fluffy breed prized as a dual-purpose chicken for both meat and eggs. Their gentle personalities also make them a backyard favorite. Depending on the color variety, Orpingtons can cost $175 or more per chick.
What Makes These Chickens So Expensive?
From their stunning black feathers to their massive drumsticks to their egg-laying prowess, these exotic chicken breeds are some of the most coveted in the world. But why do they cost so much compared to your average chicken? Here are the main factors that drive up prices:
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Rarity – Many expensive chicken breeds hail from remote parts of the world like Indonesia and Russia and have limited numbers globally. Their scarcity allows sellers to charge premium prices.
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Unique appearance – All-black chickens like the Ayam Cemani or crested chickens like the Pavlovskaya have stunning looks that exotic chicken collectors are willing to pay for.
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Specialty eggs – chickens prized for prolific egg-laying, like the Deathlayer, fetch higher prices from hobby farmers seeking maximum egg production.
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Difficulty breeding – Some breeds like the Ayam Cemani are challenging to breed consistently, which restricts supply and increases prices.
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Meat quality – Meat from breeds like the Dong Tao and Kadaknath is regarded as higher quality, contributing to the high value of the birds themselves.
So while these chickens may seem exorbitantly expensive compared to a $10 grocery store chicken, their rarity, genetics, egg production, and meat quality make them highly desirable to exotic chicken collectors with money to spare!
Are Expensive Chickens Worth It for Your Flock?
Before emptying your bank account for one of these upscale chicken breeds, carefully consider whether an expensive chicken is the right choice for your flock.
Pros
- Unique ornamental qualities
- Conversation-starting breeds
- Some lay specialty eggs
- May be able to charge more for chicks
Cons
- Require extra security from predators
- More expensive to purchase
- Some lack hardiness of heritage breeds
- Minimal egg/meat production for some breeds
For the average backyard chicken keeper, inexpensive heritage chicken breeds like Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, or Leghorns are often a better choice. But if you have your heart set on one of these exotic expensive breeds, be sure to research their care requirements first and prepare for higher purchase prices.
The Sky’s the Limit for Exotic Chicken Prices
While chickens like the humble Rhode Island Red cost just $5-$25, rare and exotic breeds can sell for up to $2,500 or more! Whether you’re a serious chicken collector looking to invest in luxury poultry or just enjoy learning about these exotic birds, these 10 fascinating breeds give new meaning to the term “expensive chickens.” Just be ready to shell out some serious cash if you want to add one of these upscale chickens to your flock!
What causes Ayam Cemani to be black?
The black pigment of the chicken is caused by a genetic mutation, which leads to a condition called fibromelanosis. While perhaps the most striking, Ayam Cemani are not the only example of this phenomenon. The adorable “Silkie” chicken (which looks a bit like a cotton ball with a beak) also sports the black flesh of fibromelanosis, along with a cute set of bright blue earlobes. Other members of this exclusive chicken club include the H’Mong chickens of Vietnam and the svarthöna of Sweden.
Scientists have been investigating the genes of this unique group of chickens to better understand exactly what causes their unusual colouring. Using DNA sequencing technology, a team at Uppsala university was able to show that fibromelanosis is caused by a genetic rearrangement. This is a type of mutation which happens when sections of the DNA become re-organised during replication. This shuffling of the genetic material results in changes in proteins, the molecular machines which are generated using DNA.
Now, back to our chickens. The gene which is altered in these jet-black birds is called Endothelin 3, or EDN3 for short. One of its functions is to control skin colour. It does this by causing the body to produce more melanoblasts, a type of pigmented cell which gives colour to hair or skin. These cells are also present in normal chickens, they are just limited to certain areas such as the feather follicles or outer skin. In Ayam Cemani and the other black chickens, almost all of the cells produce EDN3, meaning that up to 10 times more pigment cells are produced.
This explains why the inky-black colouring is not restricted to the skin of the chicken, but is also found in the organs, bones and flesh, creating a look that is either delicious or downright creepy depending on your point of view.
The mutation is so unusual that scientists believe it only occurred once. Meaning that all of the different breeds of black chicken are descendants of a single, very pigmented bird that lived a long time ago.
Worlds Most Expensive Chicken Nugget
FAQ
What is the rarest chicken?
1. AYAM CEMANI. Originating from Indonesia, the Ayam Cemani is one of the rarest and most exotic chicken breeds in the world. It is known for its striking and rare all black (inside and out) appearance.
What is the highest quality chicken you can buy?
At the grocery store, the best chicken you can buy will be organic, free-range or pasture raised, antibiotic free, and air-chilled. This combo is the winner, winner chicken dinner.