Thoughts on Ayam Ketawas (laughing chickens)

[PioneerChicks]

Right now I have the opportunity to get some Ayam Ketawas. However, I don't know much about them and haven't found much online.

Have you dealt with this breed? What are your thoughts on them? Their temperament? Egg/meat production?

I'm thinking about breeding them. Any complications with this breed? Is there somewhere I can learn about the genetics of long crowers? What are the breed standards (I assume they're somewhat unofficial?)?

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I had a pullet once, she would crow every morning with my other males. She was pretty and a great flier. I lost her at ~6 months.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

She had the laughing crow too. But not as distinct as the males I had heard.

 

[UncleChuck]

I've been investigating this breed also.
They are excellent fliers and apparently do best with an extra large run with quality poultry netting. And they are flighty but respectful so they probably won't be pets but likely won't be super aggressive, either.
The crow pattern seems to be either dominant or passed paternally, as I have seen videos of crosses with a laugh. In theor home country, I think the only thing they select for is an excelle t laugh so there is really no breed standard. You might be able to breed some more friendly birds by pairing a roo with something like an orpington or something.
Couldn't tell you about meat, though.

 

[Eggscoozme]

I had a flock of Ayam Ketawas. Eggs were purchased off eBay (seller not selling them right now).

I hatched 3 roosters, and 7 hens.

Not all roosters had a laugh. I think one didn't.

I never heard my hen crow as someone mentioned theirs did.

He was fertile. Never aggressive with humans. Didn't appear overly aggressive with the hens.

I sold all the hens as they were too flighty.

Not a meat bird. I had a red shouldered roo with a great laugh. Made me smile when gardening. Got along with our ducks and geese, too.

Roosters are a re do for us. Not the hens, though.

I'm pretty sure you don't need a purebred hen to get a crow.

Either or, there's a 50/50 chance of getting a laughing rooster no matter what.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I don't know if I already said this, but I hatched a female. She was super flighty but would crow. And she had a pretty good laugh.

 

[jxholmes]

I've had a flock for a few years now, with bloodlines from several breeders in USA and one from a Mexican breeder- love them, as does everyone that hears them.
-Attitude- The roosters are calm and friendly. Most of mine grow small nubs instead of spurs. The few with spurs didn't grow them out until they were 3-4 years old. The hens are cautious but friendly once they get accustomed to your routine.
-Flock compatibility- in the off season I let the flocks mix and the hens do well with all my other breeds. The laugher hens will tend to group together, as they are a bit smaller (a little more than 3/4 the size of RIRs). The roosters are roosters and so will fuss a good bit.
-Breeding compatibility- the roosters do a great job covering their flock and have proven genetically compatible with my other breeds. Crows from my crosses are generally not as long or entertaining as those from my pure flock.
-Crow/laugh- There is a lot of variability within a single bird for the crow. Sometimes it sounds like he's heard a great joke and sometimes it sounds like a maniacal clown is on the loose. It's great, either way. They crow all year. Having a second rooster of any kind with a second flock increases crow abundance- they are very competitive.
-Meat quality- no complaints!
-Eggs- about 3/4 'normal' egg size, light cream in color when pure, but cross with colored egg layers easily. Mine lay throughout the year, every third day during late summer and fall, every day to every second day the rest of the year.
-Broodiness- Mine go broody in the early summer pretty easily and are good moms. They will crowd a nest if you aren't careful, squeezing 4-5 hens in a nest made for one, but they don't fight over the eggs.