The colorful, free-roaming fowl of Key West, often called “gypsy chickens,” are an indelible part of the island’s unique atmosphere. These feral birds trace their lineage back to chickens brought by early settlers and fighting fowl imported from Cuba during the 19th century. Their presence is a living connection to the city’s history, thriving in the urban environment after being released or escaping when backyard farming and cockfighting were outlawed. The hens maintain their wild instincts, prompting them to seek out secure, hidden locations to lay their eggs across the compact island city.
The Specifics of Urban Nesting
The reproductive success of the Key West chicken population hinges on the hens’ ability to locate concealed nesting sites within the dense urban-tropical environment. Hens rarely lay eggs in the open, instead seeking areas that provide both overhead cover and protection from ground-level disturbances. They construct a basic nest, often a shallow depression or “scrape” in the soft dirt, hidden by debris or vegetation.
Hens frequently choose locations that offer shelter from rain, heat, and passing foot traffic. These spots include the shaded, dry ground beneath residential porches and raised decks, or within the thick undergrowth of tropical hedges and dense garden beds. Utility areas also serve as popular nesting grounds, such as the sheltered space near air conditioning units, sheds, or abandoned structures.
The tropical vegetation provides excellent natural camouflage for ground-level nests. These hidden locations allow the hen to lay her clutch—which can number up to a dozen eggs—over several days before beginning the 21-day incubation period.
Instinct and Predator Avoidance in Feral Fowl
The nesting habits of the Key West hen are deeply rooted in the innate behaviors of their junglefowl ancestors, a phenomenon known as “broodiness.” This instinct drives the hen to seek isolation and security for her clutch, contrasting sharply with the communal laying habits of domesticated breeds.
A large part of the hen’s nesting choice is driven by predator avoidance. The hen must protect her eggs from common urban scavengers such as feral cats, rats, raccoons, and opossums, which are prevalent in the Keys. The concealed location serves as the primary defense against these ground-based threats that primarily hunt by scent and sight.
The hen’s coloration, often a mottled brown and black pattern, provides effective camouflage as she sits on the nest, making her nearly invisible in the shadows of the dense foliage. The hen will remain dedicated to the nest until the chicks hatch, only briefly leaving to forage for food and water.
Local Regulations Regarding Eggs and Nests
The Key West chickens are generally considered a protected part of the city’s heritage, and local ordinances prohibit harming or killing the feral fowl. This protection extends to their nesting sites, meaning that disturbing a hen on her nest or removing her eggs is strongly discouraged and may lead to fines or penalties. Residents who find the fowl to be a nuisance can borrow traps from the Key West Wildlife Center, which works to humanely relocate the chickens to mainland farms.
The feral nature of the chickens and their urban environment introduce serious health concerns regarding the eggs. Since the nests are often located near urban waste, storm drains, and high-traffic areas, the eggs are subject to contamination by bacteria like Salmonella. Furthermore, the hens may ingest environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals found in urban soil, which can accumulate and compromise the safety of the eggs for human consumption.
For these reasons, residents and visitors are advised to leave the eggs undisturbed, allowing the natural reproductive cycle to continue without risk of disease transmission or violation of local protection guidelines.