Key West’s Famous Chickens and Roosters: What’s The Story?

Have you traveled to Key West and were surprised by how many chickens and roosters you saw running around the island? Or maybe you heard about these famous chickens even before making your trip down to Key West. Either way, yes, there are many chickens and roosters that have taken over the streets of Key West. Let’s dive into the story and find out, where did they come from and why are they allowed to stay.

The History of These Chickens and Roosters

So where did these chickens and roosters come from? These birds that have become so iconic in Key West started out as regular farm chickens that people held as their food supply many years ago. While there are many theories on who actually brought the chickens to the island, one suggests at Cuban immigrants and another at Spanish explorers, they were brought for one reason, food.

Meanwhile, cockfighting had become rampant in Key West as roosters were bred and trained to fight against each other. People then places bets on which rooster they though would win as one of the pastimes many years ago. But the exploitation of the roosters was eventually outlawed and the birds were let out into the streets.

These were some of the ways that chickens and roosters have come to live on the streets of Key West. Both of those practices ceased to exist in Key West but the birds continued to flourish. In this way they have become their own kind of attraction in Key West as people love to see them when they are traveling to Key West.

The Chickens And Roosters Today

As the number of chickens grew over the years, they have become a controversial topic in Key West. Some people love and cherish them considering them an important part of the island’s culture. Others feel the island is being overrun by these birds and they are becoming a nuisance, with their crowing and droppings, to the locals as well as tourists.

At one point there have been measures taken to control the chicken population but was discontinued soon after since it wasn’t clear what happened to the chickens after. Now there are efforts to trap the birds and take them to reliable farms in Florida.

Another effort in maintaining the chickens was made by making it illegal to feed them. This prevents the birds from flocking to places where they expect to be fed and leaves them to peacefully find their own food like they normally would.

The chickens have become protected as they are still an important part of the Key West charm. So, if you ever travel to Key West, you will have seen a place where chickens are considered special!

Where Can You See The Chickens On Your Trip?

The chickens are all over the island so there is no chance you would miss these birds. They roam around the streets and hide in the bushes so whenever you are walking around the island, you are bound to run into some of them.

For more of an ‘chicken experience’ stop by the Blue Heaven Restaurant where you can dine outside in the presence of these birds. They even have something called Breakfast With The Roosters where you have a choice of their delicious menu items with the birds running around the garden. If you do stop by Blue Heaven, make sure to get their Key Lime Pie too, it’s one of the best in town.