Key West aka Gypsy Chickens Thread :)

[holliewould]

Oh they have multiplied 3 fold LOL. They lay a dozen eggs and go broody!

 

[theadvocate19]

Oh they have multiplied 3 fold LOL.  They lay a dozen eggs and go broody!

Wonderful! I wonder how it would be possible to get some closer to Tampa Bay. Can't seem to find any info online anywhere. But yours are beautiful. Would love to see more pictures.

 

[holliewould]

Key West chickens are nothing but Seramas. If you ever make it down to the Keys, I can round you up as many as you like. They are everywhere for the taking. Here are a couple more pics for you

 

[theadvocate19]

Seramas? Hmm they don't look a thing like the ones I'm familiar with. Forgive me, but I don't think a key west trip is in my immediate future.I hoping i could get more info online...thanks a million for letting me pick your brain!!!

 

[holliewould]

Yea they are really really small and flighty. They won't stay in a backyard and they roost really high up in the trees. You can clip their wings, but that doesn't keep them from flying away. They are just so small. I have an adult that fits in the palm of my hand. Let me see, I think there was a lady in Key West selling eggs?

Here see if you can give these guys a call. They might have rescue groups that comes up your way? Or they might be able to get you into contact with someone that does? I know that our sanctuary is always getting these chickens in and finding them homes is a challenge. I usually just take them home, then they fly away and rule the neighborhood.

Anyway, these people would be of good authority when it comes to these birds. Here's a link for you

http://www.keywestwildlifecenter.org/chickens.html

 

[flgardengirl]

Seramas are much smaller than Key West. I would consider Key West somewhere between a bantam and a LF in size. Some of the hens are pretty small though. They most definitely will roost high in the trees. I had an bunch of owls wipe out half my flock a year ago. I don't let them sleep in the trees any more. They love to do it and it is a hard habit to break them of so best not to go there lol.

I had a funny thing happen a few mos ago. I had two KW hens that kept trying to go broody. I kept stealing both of their eggs daily. They still kept trying to be broody and would just lay more eggs or steal the other hens eggs. One morning I walked into their coop and one had a chick!! They are masters at hiding eggs. Both of these broody hens wanted that chick badly and they both raised it. It had two mommas 24/7 and the moms just snuggled together in the coop corner at night and the baby got between them. During the day, the 2 mommas would scratch up bugs for the chick and he would run back and forth between them. Of course the chick turned out to be a totally spoiled crele baby roo. I thought these hens would fight over this chick but they really cooperated and shared that baby. No wonder Key West is run over with chickens lol.

 

[theadvocate19]

Oh I just love reading about the breed. The thought of a domesticated species going feral and back to domestication totally interests me. I would love to welcome a hen or two to my flock, even though my SO would probably have my head on a platter if I brought in another.


I guess my questions would mostly be about behavior. Assuming they're a feral breed it makes me wonder how their disposition is. Probably a very wild breed and not very affectionate to humans. The other question I have is about their broodiness. Since they make such good mothers, perhaps they might be more friendly to humans. Also perhaps their wild side works make them more of a protector to the rest of the flock.

Boy, I guess I have totally conflicting information. And lastly, what would anyone assume the breed is composed of? I thought I read before that they are Cubalaya....

If anything,I guess they just totally peak my interest!!

 

[holliewould]

From my research, they are Serama's. Mine are VERY small. I guess the majority in key West are interbred with standards breeds as I understand it. They have that appearance to me since the majority of them in KW are red. Mine are purple, blue, splashed, whites, etc. The hens here fit in the palm of your hand. VERY small. If you want a cuddly friendly chicken, these are not it. Even raised from hatchlings they are nervous and flighty. They will hang around but wont let you go near them. Man do they go broody tho. Like the poster above, I had one hatch out ONE egg in my shed. I too was taking all her eggs, so I thought. But like the poster above said, they are masters at hiding their eggs. I personally am not too fond of the breed only because of their wild side, but they are successful here because either they out number their predators and/or they are just good at being cautious and wild. Also, Monroe county has them protected. They roost VERY high up off the ground. The mammas are pretty protective of their kids too. Fluff up and turn into a monster!!!

 

[holliewould]

If I am not mistaken, "Key West" chickens are not recognized as a breed as from my understanding is the Cubans came over with their Seramas and left them behind and a storm or something happened and the locals heritage breeds were left to become feral with the seramas and that's why you see them of all sizes??? I am trying to remember all of the details LOLOL. I swear I read somewhere about people trying to make them a part of some standard poultry thingy, but it failed. Hrmmmm. They are a mystery LOL

 

[Old Rando]

"Cubans with their seramas" now that's a bizarre statement.. Cuban game fowl , likely are a part of the mix. All feral chickens become small over generations in order to survive. Running, flying and hiding are essential to survival having a smaller size aids in that. There are plenty of real articles written about the Key West chickens and their likely and reasonable origins.