Advertisement
U.S. markets open in 46 minutes
  • S&P Futures

    5,305.25
    -3.00 (-0.06%)
     
  • Dow Futures

    40,149.00
    +5.00 (+0.01%)
     
  • Nasdaq Futures

    18,489.50
    -14.25 (-0.08%)
     
  • Russell 2000 Futures

    2,139.60
    +1.20 (+0.06%)
     
  • Crude Oil

    82.64
    +1.29 (+1.59%)
     
  • Gold

    2,229.10
    +16.40 (+0.74%)
     
  • Silver

    24.68
    -0.07 (-0.29%)
     
  • EUR/USD

    1.0798
    -0.0032 (-0.29%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.2300
    +0.0340 (+0.81%)
     
  • Vix

    13.00
    +0.22 (+1.72%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2629
    -0.0009 (-0.07%)
     
  • USD/JPY

    151.2740
    +0.0280 (+0.02%)
     
  • Bitcoin USD

    70,517.10
    +448.78 (+0.64%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • FTSE 100

    7,949.90
    +17.92 (+0.23%)
     
  • Nikkei 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     

Rare $2,500 Chicken Is ‘Lamborghini’ of Poultry

Rare $2,500 Chicken Is ‘Lamborghini’ of Poultry

How much would you pay for chicken?

Paul Bradshaw, a breeder in Florida at Greenfire Farms, sells chickens for $2,500...per chicken, that is. And $4,999 for a juvenile pair. Bradshaw says the rare Indonesian breed Ayam Cemani is “my most requested bird, ever.”

It remains to be seen if there's a mainstream market for the bird. He’s the first U.S. breeder and doesn’t expect to have chicks available until early 2014.

We asked Dana Cowin, editor-in-chief of Food & Wine, why this chicken costs so much.

"To be fair, it is an all black chicken," she says. "So it's very chic. Its feathers are black. Its organs are black. Its meat is black. So it's very special, it's a rare breed chicken."

The chicken is named after a village (Cemani) in central Java. The black coloring is the result of a genetic trait known as “fibromelanosis” and is also characteristic of Chinese Silkies, a black chicken treasured across China.

Related: Supply & Demand: Would You Pay $40 for a Cronut?

Collectors covet this bird because it's beautiful, exotic and hard-to-get. Greenfire Farms says it was able to legally import the Ayam Cemani despite a current USDA export ban on importing live chickens from Indonesia. Their website says the “friendly” chickens are renowned in Asia “for the mystical powers of their black meat.” It’s traditionally eaten as part of various rituals. So while they are relatively cheap in Indonesia, the delicacy won’t have a chance to catch on in the U.S. until the Cemani are more widely available.

Bradshaw expects that eventually the Cemani population will grow and the price will fall. Then the bird could be sold in specialty meat markets, especially Asian markets across the U.S.

Cowin says you can collect the large, cream-colored eggs and eat them too. But she thinks the current price tag could cause some buyers to think twice before they slaughter this bird.

"At $2,500 a pop, $5,000 for a pair, you're probably not gonna go eat that bird anytime soon," she notes. "The market is not large, but it's passionate. This guy [Paul Bradshaw] who has imported this breed...he has a higher demand for these chickens than any other chickens in his rare breed collection. So among the people who care... they do care a lot."

For comparisons sake: Cowin notes you can get 15 run-of-the-mill chicks sent to you for about $85. And other special breeds – like the Chocolate Wyandotte – sell for $149 for a dozen. So the Ayam Cemani definitely stands apart.

Related: Wake Up Bacon Fans: Get Used to the Idea of Chinese Companies Buying American Pork Producers

Cowin and her crew stumbled upon the $2,500 chicken as they assembled their latest issue of Food & Wine -- the September issue is a celebration of chicken.

"It's almost embarrassing to say that it's a chicken moment" but it is, says Cowin. The magazine details the most incredible juicy, crispy and fragrant things that chefs are doing with chicken across the country.

To be clear, there is an economic reason behind the current resurgence of chicken.

"The fact is that grain prices have dropped which means feeding chickens [is] less expensive so it is cheaper to buy a chicken today," says Cowin. "And beef and pork are becoming more expensive. So there is an economic underpinning but I am gonna have to go for flavor first."

Related: The Cupcake Craze Is Not Over

By the way, beyond chicken trends, Cowin talked to The Daily Ticker about the next big thing in food. She says we're gonna be talking about goats next year. It's better for the planet, and it's delicious -- according to Cowin. Stay tuned.

Tell Us What You Think!

Send an email to: thedailyticker@yahoo.com.

You can also look us up on Twitter and Facebook.

More from The Daily Ticker

Top U.S. Airports to Be Stranded In During a Flight Delay

Economic Mobility Explained With Candy M&M's

Obama Takes on the College Cartel

Advertisement