Spooky looking Zombie chickens have pale plumage over dark legs, skin, beak, comb, wattles, and eyes. Because of this coloration, the chickens appear to be undead. However, they are very much alive. They are also prolific layers and fun to include in the backyard flock.
What makes a Zombie chicken?
The Zombie chicken is a hybrid cross between an Ayam Cemani rooster and a white Leghorn hen. The F1 generation chicks have dark skin like the hypermelanistic rooster’s, and pale feathers like the white hen’s. The plumage is not pure white, and may have irregular black or gray spots and patches.
Where did Zombie chickens come from?
Sometime around 2023 or early 2024 this hybrid was developed in the United States through selective crossbreeding to create a chicken with a unique and unsettling death-like appearance.
What is so special about Zombie chickens?
Special characteristics include these:
- ghostly appearance
- outstanding layer
- especially hardy
- environmentally adaptable
- docile and friendly
- energetic forager
- low-maintenance and self-sufficient
Why is this chicken called Zombie?
It gets its name from its eerie ghostly appearance created by pale plumage over dark legs and face.
How to breed to get Zombie chickens?
Essentially they are a cross between a hypermelanistic rooster and a hen with white feathers. Typically the rooster is an Ayam Cemani and the hen is a white Leghorn.
What size is a Zombie chicken?
Hens mature to about 4½ pounds. Roosters will reach about 6½ pounds.
Are Zombie chickens easy to raise?
Yes, they are highly adaptable to all climates, have a robust immune system, and are otherwise easy keepers.
Are Zombie chickens APA approved?
No. They have not been approved by the American Poultry Association. They are a hybrid color pattern rather than a recognized breed.
Is the Zombie chicken the same as the Crazy Cackle Zombie chicken?
No. Although both are hybrid crosses, the Crazy Cackle Zombie chicken is largely black rather than nearly white. Further, no two Crazy Cackle Zombies look alike, with varying comb and crest shapes, irregular feathering, and differing numbers of toes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Zombie chickens rare?
They are quite rare, because they require crossbreeding two separate breeds to develop the F1 hybrid cross.
Are Zombie hens good layers?
Yes. Like their Leghorn mother, the hens are excellent layers. They lay between 270 and 300 eggs a year.
What color eggs do Zombie hens lay?
The eggs are white to lightly tinted.
What size are Zombie chicken eggs?
The eggs are medium to large in size.
Is the Zombie chicken dual-purpose?
These chickens are mid-size, and slender like Leghorns. Although they could be raised for meat, they are more often kept as layers and, for their unique appearance, as pets.
Are Zombie hens broody?
The hens do not usually brood.
Are Zombie roosters aggressive?
Although they can be assertive and protective, overall the roosters are pretty even-tempered.
Are Zombie chickens friendly?
Yes, they are gentle and friendly. Although they can be independent, they do enjoy human company.
Do Zombie chickens get along with other breeds?
Yes. They are calm, inquisitive, and active but not aggressive. So they typically get along well in a mixed backyard flock.
And that’s today’s news from the Cackle Coop.
Gail Damerow has raised chickens and various other poultry for more than 5 decades and has written numerous books about them, many available from the Cackle Bookstore.
