IT BEGAN with a simple idea and a few eggs ordered online — and has since grown into a hobby that now includes some of the rarest black chickens in the world.
For Newport’s Darren Cooley, what started as curiosity has turned into a passion for unusual poultry.
“I started buying (hatching) eggs from eBay,” Darren said.
"I wanted to hatch different types that you don't usually see on the Island."
Inspired by a friend who kept quails, Darren began experimenting around four years ago with American silkies, naked neck showgirls — a quirky breed with fluffy bodies and bare necks — and flamboyant Polish chickens.
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"I then raised enough hens to start selling eggs myself on eBay," Darren explained.
Before long, business was egg-sactly what you might expect — with orders being shipped to poultry enthusiasts across the country, including TV personality Stacey Solomon, who hatched chicks at her Essex home, Little Pickle Cottage.
But Darren’s most eye-catching addition came later, with the extraordinary Ayam Cemani.
Often described as a rare chicken, the Indonesian breed is famous for being entirely black — from feathers and skin, to bones and even their internal organs.
The Ayam Cemani originates from Java and other parts of Indonesia, where it has been kept for centuries and sometimes linked to religious or mystical practices.
The name comes from Indonesian and Sanskrit — 'ayam' means chicken and 'cemani' refers to being jet black.
Ayam Cemani carry a dominant genetic trait, called fibromelanosis, which causes extreme pigmentation throughout the body.
As a result, their feathers, skin, comb, wattles, beak, legs, meat, bones and even most internal organs are black or very dark grey.
Adults are medium-sized, with males typically around 2–3kg, and females about 1.5–2kg.
“I got the eggs from a farm in Wales, from top German breeders.”
With a helping hand from his sister Paula, Darren successfully hatched and raised the birds, adding them to his growing collection.
The 50-year-old balances his hobby with his job at Radcliffe’s fruit and veg shop in Blackwater, while continuing to send his eggs to fellow enthusiasts nationwide.
“This is what I do as one of my hobbies and I love it. These chickens are amazing,” he said.
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