Black Shumen chicken
The Black Shumen is a Bulgarian breed of chicken. It originates in Shumen Province, in north-eastern Bulgaria. In the mid-twentieth century it was cross-bred with Minorca chickens and later, briefly, with Rhode Island Red birds. In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed; one flock of about 200 birds is maintained at the Agricultural Institute of Stara Zagora.
| Life Span | 5-10 years |
| Weight | 2-5 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Black Shumen chicken
Finding a responsible Black Shumen chicken breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells chickens commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Black Shumen chicken. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Black Shumen chickens appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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