KEY WEST, Fla. — Even Key West's famous chickens are leaving town ahead of Hurricane Irma, according to locals.
A photo posted on the Key West Finest Facebook page shows roosters and chickens wrapped in newspaper "burritos" and placed in the back seat of a car. A notable local figure, Jayesh Mani, was given credit for moving the feathered friends to safety.
CHICKEN EVACUATION Gotta love the people in Key West! Thank you to Local Selfie Celeb @Jayesh Mani for doing what the rest of us only wished for! 💙🌴🐓#onlyinkeywest
Posted by Key West Finest on Wednesday, September 6, 2017
While some Facebook commenters questioned how the chickens were being transported, others noted that it was to prevent fighting. Lacey Bacon-Stonebraker, who claims to own chickens herself, commented on the Facebook post, agreeing that it was an appropriate way to transport the birds.
Dubbed by locals as “gypsy chickens,” the free-roaming birds are former backyard chickens and roosters who were released when cock-fighting became illegal in the area. While some locals may find them to be an annoyance, for tourists, they are part of Key West's charm.
Cox Media Group
