Ayam Cemani: The World’s Most Expensive Chicken and Its Path to Zimbabwe

The Ayam Cemani (image source)

The Ayam Cemani has become the stuff of poultry-keeper legend — an all-black Indonesian chicken whose raven plumage, black skin, even black flesh and organs have earned it nicknames from “the Lamborghini of chickens” to “the mystical Indonesian fowl.” That mystique translates into money, with live breeding stock fetching hundreds to thousands of dollars, putting the Cemani at the top of “most expensive chicken” lists worldwide.

What makes an Ayam Cemani so rare, and so costly, is a genetic condition called fibromelanosis. This gene causes hyper-pigmentation that saturates feathers, skin, connective tissue, and internal organs, giving the bird its trademark blackness and an exotic appeal to collectors, chefs, and breeders. Beyond appearance, the bird carries cultural and spiritual significance in parts of Indonesia, further fuelling demand and price. Juveniles and breeder-quality birds command the highest sums, with retail adult prices commonly ranging between US$800 and US$3,000, while elite bloodlines sometimes trade for even more.

However, not every Cemani is a multi-thousand-dollar showbird. “Pet-quality” stock and chicks sell far cheaper in hobbyist circles, and market prices fluctuate with availability, pedigree, and breeder reputation. Supply is limited as true pureblood lineages are carefully managed by specialist breeders in Indonesia, Europe, and North America. International shipping of live birds or hatching eggs is tightly regulated — scarcity, shipping, quarantine, and veterinary certification costs all contribute to the high price.

For Zimbabwean breeders, entering the Cemani market comes with practical and legal hurdles. Importing live poultry or hatching eggs requires permits and veterinary clearances to protect local flocks from diseases such as avian influenza. Zimbabwe’s Animal Health (Import) Regulations mandate permits, health certification from the exporting country, and often quarantine on arrival. Informal or illicit cross-border poultry movement is explicitly prohibited to prevent disease introduction.

A practical route for Zimbabwean enthusiasts is to import hatching eggs or day-old chicks from reputable breeders who meet export and sanitary standards. This typically involves paying for veterinary certificates, air freight, customs clearance, and quarantine — costs that can significantly increase the final purchase price. Another pathway is collaborating with regional poultry associations and accredited importers to manage the complex paperwork. Buyers should insist on pedigrees, health records, and certification verifying lineage and disease-free status.

In contrast, Zimbabwe’s indigenous chickens — hardy, mixed-line backyard birds — occupy a completely different niche. They are valued for resilience, low-input husbandry, and adaptation to local conditions rather than exotic appearance. While they cannot compete in global collectors’ markets, they are vital for food security. For breeders aspiring to develop premium stock locally, the sensible path is to combine robust management with selective breeding. Establishing a true Ayam Cemani line, however, requires the careful legal import of purebred foundation birds.

For breeders contemplating investment, a checklist is essential:

1. Confirm legal import pathways and quarantine rules with Zimbabwe’s veterinary authority.

2. Source from reputable, documented breeders.

3. Budget for freight, veterinary certification, and quarantine.

4. Prepare biosecure housing and husbandry plans.

5. Assess market demand — are you selling breeder stock, eggs, or novelty show birds?
   

Without this discipline, the glamour of owning a Cemani can quickly turn into financial and biosecurity risk. The Ayam Cemani will likely remain the poster child for expensive chickens — a breed as much wrapped in myth as pigment. For Zimbabwe’s poultry sector, the lesson is clear: exotic breeds can be introduced successfully, but only through a framework that protects local flocks, safeguards animal health, and builds credible expertise.