The Ayam Ketawa, or "laughing chicken," originated in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi Province and holds a special place in the nation’s cultural heritage. Once kept exclusively as a status symbol by the Buginese royal family, the breed rose in popularity after the fall of the monarchy. Today, it remains a proud emblem of bravery, prestige, and heroism. Known for their unique and melodic crow—more reminiscent of laughter than a typical rooster’s call—these birds are celebrated across the country. Each year, with great fanfare, a national competition honors the Ayam Ketawa with the most impressive crowing, reinforcing their iconic status in Indonesian tradition.

The exact origins of the Ayam Ketawa remain unclear, and at first glance, the breed appears similar to other native Indonesian chickens, with gamefowl-like features in both body shape and coloration. However, the Ayam Ketawa truly sets itself apart the moment you hear its distinctive crow. This breed is part of a group of chickens known as longcrowers, but the Ayam Ketawa stands out for its distinctive vocalizations that uncannily resemble human laughter.

The Ayam Ketawa have a proud, upright stance with long, flowing tail feathers and a tall, elegant comb that adds to their regal look. Their plumage can vary in color, with black-breasted red being the most commonly observed. However, appearance is considered secondary to the distinct crow of the roosters. At maturity, hens typically weigh around 3 pounds, while roosters reach about 5 pounds.

We've observed that the hens often go broody. They aren't prolific layers, typically producing around 180 eggs per year. This breed thrives in open spaces being that they are highly active foragers and have a tendency to be flighty. Hens are typically quite vocal, especially after laying an egg or when eggs are collected from a broody hen. Roosters generally do well with a rooster-to-hen ratio of approximately 1:12.

The breed standard for the Ayam Ketawa is relatively informal, as there are no strict guidelines for their appearance. However, there are some general traits to look for: birds should have clean, featherless blue legs, red earlobes, and a straight comb. The only firmly established standard pertains to the rooster’s crow. To learn more about this unique breed, check out the link below—just a heads-up, the page will need to be translated.

Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health - Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia

We incubate at 99.5°F and 55% humidity, and the Ketawa are excellent hatchers! Most chicks will hatch on day 21, with anywhere from a 95 to 100% hatch rate. When it comes to chick color, all variations are acceptable; however, the most commonly seen on hatch day is a brown chick with a distinctive chipmunk-like stripe down its back.

Occasionally, chicks may hatch with crooked toes—a trait we actively cull for on hatch day, and we recommend you do the same if you're hatching your own eggs. We also suggest checking for the presence of a fifth toe, although this trait is very rare and hasn’t appeared in our flock for over five years.

Ayam Ketawa are robust and hardy as adults, but they can be more sensitive to shipping stress compared to some other breeds. To support their recovery, be sure to provide electrolytes upon arrival.

Import Notes

In 2018, we imported Ayam Ketawa from two different bloodlines. This was one of our more challenging imports, as the USDA prohibits direct importation from Indonesia due to concerns about avian influenza in the region. However, through careful collaboration with Ayam Ketawa breeders and a legally compliant workaround, we successfully brought this rare breed into the United States. Greenfire Farms remains the only source of legally imported Ayam Ketawa in the country.