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.
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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.