Key West chicks

There are a lot of chickens who live wild in the Keys. Aaron got some cute pictures of a mother hen and her chicks. There is a big controversy in Key West over whether the chickens should run loose or be caught. Here is an excerpt from a website I found about the big chicken debate in Key West. Look carefully at the picture. How many chicks do you see? There are more than three! Click on the picture to enlarge it.


www.livableoldtown.com/eviction_looms.htm

The wild birds, which have been featured in national newspapers and television networks like Comedy Central, have local fans and enemies. "The town is split 50-50 on this," Jones said. "You either love them or you hate them."

The city recently has received complaints from 150 residents asking that the city trap and remove the noisy roosters from their neighborhoods. There are an estimated 2,000 free ranging chickens in city limits, Jones said.

Aside from some humans, the birds have virtually no predators on the island. Most dogs and cats fear the aggressive roosters. City law prohibits cruelty to all animals and bans luring, enticing, seizing, molesting or teasing the birds. The law requires that owners cage their fowl, but the wild birds roam the streets and roost in the trees.

The chickens, which are believed to have been brought to the island by Cuban immigrants who wanted to use them for cock fights, even have their own store.