Posted on 04/12/2011 10:56:37 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Since Hurricane Katrina, Ruby Melton's 9th Ward enclave has welcomed a new species of neighbor: clucking, crowing, prancing chickens that dart across streets and nest in the trees.
Animal control officers place the stray chickens with a farmer they call the Chicken Man, LeBlanc said, noting that capturing the creatures is "extremely hard" and often requires the effort of several officers.
The job hasn't proved as vexing for a band of swift, persevering kids who have invested countless hours stalking and nabbing the feathered bandits, said Ed Buckner, director of the Porch, a cultural organization in the 7th Ward. When Buckner a few years ago started a Mardi Gras Indian tribe for youth at the Porch, he wanted to call it "Akanka," after the Choctaw word for chicken.
"Until they started sewing, these boys were running around chasing chickens all day," Buckner said.
The boys opted to call their tribe the Red Flame Hunters, which they thought sounded cooler. But they admitted to a knack for capturing chickens that roost in nearby trees.
Barbara Young and Michael Sartin have fed the birds for decades.
"That let me know there's hope," she said. "I thought, 'We're going to see green again. We're going to have life. We're going to be able to go back home.'"
The couple tries to scare away chicken hawks and owls that fly in from nearby Bayou Bienvenue. They've seen raptors pick off little chicks and even grab grown birds, they said.
"We just watch the chickens live free," said Young, recalling a man who once asked if she owns the chickens. "I said, 'I don't own them. They're just ours. We feed them.'"
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Perhaps there is a good horror movie here such as: “Attack of the Feral Chickens,” or “ Zombie Chickens.” The Japanese reactor damage with leaking radioactive substance could be tied in along with the Delta Smelt and evil right wing capitalists. A victim could be portrayed as being pecked to death by hundreds of crazed “Feral Chickens.” The possibilities are endless.
“The Zombie Zydeco Chicken That Ate Bourbon Street”
“Headquarters, we have a man down. Please send in the CSI (Chicken Scene Investigators) team.”
Is there a reason NOLA people don’t want these chickens?
Besides the crowing, maybe?
But, are real Feral Chickens being depicted in your photograph? How do we know? You may be trying to fob off tame chickens as Feral. Some people would sink that low!
I just walk out the back yard with a yellow bucket and they all come running to me. very easy to catch.
THird World, here we come!
Got feral chickens? Make chicken gumbo!!
Farm chickens are hard to catch without a big net, but when they go to roost in the early evening, you can pick them off with your hands...they go into a semi-stupor. Thats how a coon that got into my coop killed 1/2 the chickens and stacked them up dead for a return feast. The guinea’s were fine except for one with a macerated leg that I was able to save with a splint for a week....had to mercy kill one that was chewed up but not dead....I HATE COONS...
Gentrification. Evil racists.
My 79 year old grandmother didn’t have much problem catching them either.
At least the feral chickens feed themselves.......
I’ve been reading disturbing accounts detailing how much of
“Katrina Recovery Money” has gone to feather the nests of deep south politicans and their cohorts........I gotta ask ‘how does purchases of such things as tasers, Blackburys, personal computers,etc. help victims “recover” ? Maybe the chickens have a better scheme free of government intervetion at work ? >PS
Goodness, what a hussy! Leave that poor rooster alone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
