Key West Chickens


		Key West Chickens Key West Chicken "Rooster" Feral chickens are protected in Key West. They are everywhere. I would think they would get run over but we have never seen one that was hit by a car. We do see pigeons and sea gulls that are hit by cars but not chickens. They must be smarter. They walk in and out of traffic like they know what they are doing. Key West Chicken shopping for a new dress Joyce got this picture of a chicken just outside a dress shop in Key West. Key West Chicken & biddy and a rooster I think we took this picture while dining at B.O.'s Fish Wagon in Key West. Someone was throwing bread on the sidewalk for them to eat. This is a pretty common sight. They come inside many restaurants just like pigeons do. Key West Chicken - Rooster I think this rooster is posing for his picture. Key West Chicken & biddy and a rooster dining outside B.O.'s Fish Wagon I think these were feeding on the sidewalk in front of B.O.'s Fish Wagon in Key West. B.O.'s Fish Wagon is a popular restaurant with locals and tourist alike. You should give it a try when you visit Key West. Where else can you dine and have this much ambiance? Key West Chicken - Rooster This rooster has some nice color. Key West chickens are descendants of chickens borought over by Cubans when they fled Cuba back in the 1950's. Chickens have been in Key West for over 175 years. However, their numbers grew in the 1950s, when thousands of Cubans fled Cuba and came to Key West. These Cubans brought their chickens with them. Back in the 1950's chickens were used for meat and eggs. However the roosters were especially prized for their beauty and cockfighting. Eventually, many were released by owners who found it easier to purchase eggs and fresh chicken than to maintain caged chickens. I am not old enough to recall when eggs and poultry became readily available in local grocery stores but it was after the 1950's. Today these wild or feral chickens thrive on a diet of native insects, lizards, pet food, restaurant left overs, etc.,. Today, these descendants of the imported Cuban chickens still roam freely throughout Key West. Key West Rooster and his girl friend under a kapok tree This rooster and chicken were scratching around the base of a kapok tree in Old Town Key West. Mother hens are protective of their eggs and chicks, and breed prolifically year-round. Key West Chicken - Rooster Roosters like this one are territorial and will fight to control his territory. I might add it is against the law for two roosters to fight, but they do not respect the law. VBG Key West Chicken going for a Parasail ride Key West's feral chickens are smaller and more colorful than chickens bred for meat and eggs. Old Conchs say that the meat of a Key West chicken is tough and gamey, but the eggs are said to be tasty. Key West Rooster ---- possibly Cock of the Walk They are surprisingly good fliers, and roost in trees at night. I bet this rooster can defend his territory. He just looks bad! Key West Chicken & biddy These scrappy birds are completely self-sufficient, though they will happily accept handouts or castaways from humans. They eat just about anything, but most often scratch in the dirt for bugs and worms. Click here for more Key West travellogs Until next time remember how good life is. More Florida Adventures More Key West Adventures More 2011 Travel Adventures Mike & Joyce Hendrix Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year Travel Adventures by State Plants Marine-Boats Geology Exciting Drives Cute Signs RV Subjects Miscellaneous Subjects** We would love to hear from you......just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us Until next time remember how good life is.