Fact or Fiction? Gypsy Chickens Take Over the Florida Keys!
DINKS Travel 
The following submission is either completely fictional or is fact-based. Please post a comment noting whether you think it is True or False with your own entertaining or supporting commentary. The answer will be provided in a future comment on this post.
We were enjoying another lovely day in the Florida Keys when we stopped to access cash from a local ATM. As we returned to our car in the parking lot of the Winn-Dixie grocery store, we were accosted by a “Gypsy Chicken” – A proud, colorful rooster seeking to relieve us of the recently withdrawn funds. We narrowly escaped the surprise encounter without harm and quickly made our way further down The Keys and away from what we assumed was an isolated population of poultry punks.
Little did we know we would encounter more fowl play when we arrived in Key West. Caravans of the Gypsy Chicken were visible throughout the town, each more unkept and uncivilized than the last. These societal castoffs had given up on traditional farm-based employment and had taken to the urban neighborhoods, surviving on street smarts and strong stomachs capable of consuming the least palatable scraps.
We post this blog as a public service to anyone who may be considering voyage to the Florida Keys. Gypsy Chickens can be quite territorial and may not take kindly to your trespass on their turf. If you find yourself in a hostile situation, watch your wallets, avoid eye contact, and distract them by throwing pieces of bread behind you as you make a hasty retreat.
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Reader Comments (7)
I believe it...Fact! We had gypsy raccoon at CU....stay out of their way!
Matt - Thanks for being the first person to cast a vote in our premier "Fact or Fiction" challenge - Let the games begin!
We're watching you . . . .
We have uncovered evidence that suggests the recent comment made by 'Chicken' was actually submitted by the Chick-Fil-A Eat Mor Chikin Cowz in an effort to continue defending the world from further poultry overpopulation.
Fact: Believe it or not there are warning signs on the drive to Key West. You must look for the sign of the large "Red Crown". The warning signs commence at Key Largo but the largest display is right before you enter the seven mile bridge. Folklore has it you are free of the Red Crown menace if you stop at designated drinking establishments along the way to pay homage to the bird. The folklore also states if you pick one local at each establishment and purchase them a rum drink you will have no issue entering or leaving the keys.
Uncle - Your Red Crown wisdom has served us well. We thought the poultry plague was behind us, only to discover that Maui and Oahu contain an over-abundance of the Red Crown's crowing-cousins, locally known as the "mua" or "red jungle fowl". All efforts to appease these island predators failed until we turned to your tale of folklore. You'll be pleased to hear that we have initiated a Hawaiian public service program; its theme is "Rum, not roosters!" and it appears to be on the verge of going viral.
The votes are in - Both Matt M & "Uncle" believe that broods of Gypsy Chickens do indeed call the Florida Keys home, and they were...............Right! Many articles detail the poultry invasion, such as this Key West History Magazine article entitled, "Those Clucking Neighbors" - http://www.explorekeywesthistory.com/Viva%20Weekly/Those%20Clucking%20Neighbors/Clucking%20Neighbors%202.html.