Hi all,
Just got back from the Fla. Keys and have to tell you about the Key West chickens!! They just run wild throughout the town (and have for decades, since the Cubans brought them over to live in Key West a long, long time ago). It was really interesting to observe them. I feel badly for them because they just scavenge for food - nobody gives them chicken feed. They're on their own.
When eating at an outdoor restaurant, two chicks, about 6 weeks old, were there looking for food. I, of course, threw them some blue berries and grapes which they gobbled up. Then, in comes a beautiful great big rooster who proceeds to announce his arrival several times. A rooster somewhere in the neighborhood kept answering back. Then his hen arrived and I gave them some food too. Next, oh my! In walks a beautiful shiny black hen and EIGHT brand new babies!! Four were brown chipmunk looking and four were black. They also were looking for food.
One night I was walking down the street around 8:30 and I heard a chicken give the warning growl as I went by a hedge. Curious, I looked for her and found her way up at the top of the hedge with one baby perched next to her. It's my opinion that many of the chicks end up as lunch or dinner for the many cats I saw in Key West. Of the chicks who had been booted out of the nest - 6 wks. or older - there were only two or three together. I guess it's good in a way that the cats keep the population down. Survival of the fittest and all that.
One night there were two chicks on the steps of a quickie mart. They still had baby fuzz on their heads but no mom was in sight. I couldn't stand it and went in the store to buy them some decent food. The ONLY thing I could find was tuna fish in water. Had to buy a can opener too! But, anyway, they gobbled it down and then I filled the can with water for them. They were very leary of me but I watched them for a while and they seemed to know the ropes. Hopped up on a very large rock made of coral and preened themselves. It was after dark so I know, if they were still with their mother, they would have been in bed by then.
Saw lots more wandering throughout the town. They all looked healthy so I guess they've learned to survive. If I ever go back to Key West - OR if YOU go there - bring some chicken feed for them! They'll thank you for it!!
Just wanted to share my experiences. Thanks for reading.
Just got back from the Fla. Keys and have to tell you about the Key West chickens!! They just run wild throughout the town (and have for decades, since the Cubans brought them over to live in Key West a long, long time ago). It was really interesting to observe them. I feel badly for them because they just scavenge for food - nobody gives them chicken feed. They're on their own.
When eating at an outdoor restaurant, two chicks, about 6 weeks old, were there looking for food. I, of course, threw them some blue berries and grapes which they gobbled up. Then, in comes a beautiful great big rooster who proceeds to announce his arrival several times. A rooster somewhere in the neighborhood kept answering back. Then his hen arrived and I gave them some food too. Next, oh my! In walks a beautiful shiny black hen and EIGHT brand new babies!! Four were brown chipmunk looking and four were black. They also were looking for food.
One night I was walking down the street around 8:30 and I heard a chicken give the warning growl as I went by a hedge. Curious, I looked for her and found her way up at the top of the hedge with one baby perched next to her. It's my opinion that many of the chicks end up as lunch or dinner for the many cats I saw in Key West. Of the chicks who had been booted out of the nest - 6 wks. or older - there were only two or three together. I guess it's good in a way that the cats keep the population down. Survival of the fittest and all that.
One night there were two chicks on the steps of a quickie mart. They still had baby fuzz on their heads but no mom was in sight. I couldn't stand it and went in the store to buy them some decent food. The ONLY thing I could find was tuna fish in water. Had to buy a can opener too! But, anyway, they gobbled it down and then I filled the can with water for them. They were very leary of me but I watched them for a while and they seemed to know the ropes. Hopped up on a very large rock made of coral and preened themselves. It was after dark so I know, if they were still with their mother, they would have been in bed by then.
Saw lots more wandering throughout the town. They all looked healthy so I guess they've learned to survive. If I ever go back to Key West - OR if YOU go there - bring some chicken feed for them! They'll thank you for it!!
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