Bohuslän-Dals Svarthöna

Bohuslän-Dals Svarthöna, also called the Swedish Black Hen or Svart Hona, is a Swedish landrace chicken from Bohuslän and Dalsland on the country's west side. It carries fibromelanosis, the genetic condition that darkens feathers, skin, comb, wattles, meat, and bones. Birds are small to medium, alert, and practical rather than ornamental-only, with an all-black appearance that separates them from ordinary black-feathered breeds. Eggs are light colored, so the darkness is in the bird, not the shell.

Management centers on keeping the landrace hardy and true to origin. Svarthöna usually does well in small free-range flocks, where it forages actively and handles cool Scandinavian weather if given dry, draft-free housing. Conservation-minded breeders look for strong black pigmentation, good fertility, natural vigor, and avoidance of crosses with Ayam Cemani or other fibromelanistic chickens. The breed remains uncommon, so buyers should ask whether the flock belongs to a recognized landrace or preservation program rather than selecting only for the darkest comb or skin.