The Sumatra is a breed of chicken native of the island of Sumatra. Chickens were originally imported from Sumatra in 1847 to the U.S. and Europe for the purpose of cockfighting, but today the breed is primarily kept for exhibition. 1883 is the year the Black Sumatra was first inducted into the American Standard of Perfection.
Sumatras are primarily an ornamental breed kept for their attractive plumage. Most often they are pitch black with a green sheen throughout the body and tail. The breed additionally comes in blue and white varieties. Males usually weigh between 4 and 5 pounds, and females weigh between 31⁄2 and 4 pounds. Hens lay about 100 white eggs a year. Both males and females have no wattles, and males often have multiple spurs[1]. The breed is considered a primitive one; the Sumatra retains a strong flying ability, unlike most modern chicken breeds. The males will fight for dominance, but unlike most breeds, they usually do not fight to the death.
A unique feature of the Sumatra is that males have multiple spurs, with Sumatra sometimes having as many as 3 spurs per leg.[2]