Chickens are getting sick in Key West. The problem isn’t new, the city says
Key West, please stop feeding the chickens.
No, really. Now.
When you feed the feral chickens, you’re only hurting the birds, according to the city and local wildlife rescue workers.
And lately, Key West’s famous chickens, which roam wherever they want across the island, are having a tough time, the city said Monday.
It’s because people toss down food for them. The food mixes with bacteria in the soil and causes chickens to fall ill, according to the city.
The sickness has become so common, people have been calling the local wildlife center accusing neighbors of poisoning chickens.
“It’s not poisoning, the chickens are just sick,” said Tom Sweets, executive director of Key West Wildlife Center. “It happens every year.”
Symptoms include closed eyes and paralysis. Some recover, but they can die from exposure.
The city, in a news release, attributed the problem to botulism. But the wildlife center can’t afford to test every sick bird and couldn’t confirm what’s behind it.
“We just know from years of experience, these chickens are down sick,” Sweets said.
People shouldn’t be feeding the chickens at all, Sweets said, whether it’s legitimate bird seed or junk food like Cheetos and French fries.
Sweets said he didn’t have the data on how many birds are sick but said it’s a typical number when compared to years past.
“It’s spiking now because it’s that time of year,” Sweets said. “We’ve been getting quite a few chickens coming in with these symptoms.”
If people care about the chickens, they’ll stop giving them food, he said.
“They’re doing more harm than good,” Sweets said. “They don’t need to be fed. We’ve never seen an emaciated healthy chicken here that was part of the feral chicken population. For some reason, people think they have to feed them.”
The city and the Key West Wildlife Center started working together 11 years ago to reduce the number of feral chickens roaming the island’s streets.
“But we need your help,” city spokeswoman Alyson Crean said Monday.
Since 2009, nearly 15,000 birds have been relocated to the mainland, but the numbers continue to rise.
