For the people of the East, the crowing of a rooster is a familiar sound that signals the start of a new day. This sound is produced by the unique biological system of roosters. However, The Ayam Ketawa is a breed of chicken renowned for its clear crowing, which surprisingly resembles human laughter.
The Indonesian Laughing Chicken (Ayam Ketawa), also known as the Fortune Chicken or King Chicken (Ayam Raja), is a breed that is traditionally allowed to be raised only by the Kings of the Bugis. This breed originates from Indonesia.
In the past, the Ayam Ketawa breed was regarded as a symbol of power for the “Buginese” royal family.
These special chickens are no different from ordinary domestic chickens until they start to crow, when their uniqueness is revealed.
Instead of the typical “cock-a-doodle-doo,” these Indonesian roosters make sounds that closely resemble human laughter. This unique crowing has made the Ayam Ketawa famous worldwide.
To date, the origin of this special “laughing chicken” is still unclear. It is believed that they are the result of breeding various types of chickens in Indonesia until achieving such a distinctive crow.
It is estimated that the Ayam Ketawa has existed for about 350 years. Currently, this breed is protected in Indonesia due to its declining population.
Notably, this breed does not naturally produce a “laugh” but requires special training. Each trainer has their own method, resulting in each Ayam Ketawa chicken having a unique “laugh.”
In fact, there are two types of “laughing chickens.” Among them, Dangut is the more expensive type, producing sounds as quick as a machine gun. These special Dangut chickens are sold for tens of thousands of USD (equivalent to hundreds of millions of VND).
Every year in Indonesia, there are crowing competitions for “laughing chickens” that draw many participants.
