Black Shumen

The Black Shumen is an old breed of chicken originating in Shumen region of Bulgaria. In the middle of the 20th century it was crossed with Minorca chickens and later, briefly, with Rhode Island Red birds.

It is considered a rare breed. In 2013 the population was reported as 350. It is kept by the Bulgarian Poultry Institute in Stara Zagora and by a few members of the Bulgarian Poultry Breeders Association.

Characteristics
The Black Shumen is black with a greenish sheen; it has a single comb, white skin and red earlobes. It is early-maturing, and lays 160–170 greyish-white eggs weighing per year.