Fowl Types

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Chickens

    Cubalaya                       Great Curassow                  Guinea Fowl                      Red Junglefowl

These birds are raised for their poultry-meat, eggs and sometimes for their feathers. The chickens have different combs shapes and nodules on their head and or beaks. 

Also see   Partridges,   Pheasants,   and    Quails 

Red Junglefowl

Red Junglefowl

Gallus gallus

Photographed in wild,

St Thomas US Virgin Islands   Dec 2012   Mar 2015

 

This bird occupies a wide range of habitat throughout its broad range. From sea level to over 6,000 ft, they are found in nearly all tropical to subtropical habitats. Rolling hills of bamboo forests and other secondary growth is preferred. Males form harems of 3-4 hens and breeding begins as early as January. Nests with 5-6 eggs are placed under a bush or in a bamboo clump and the hen alone cares for the young.

Introduced to the Dominican Republic and spread throughout the West Indies. Bread as a farm fowl for their eggs and meat. Juvenile in top picture, adult in lower

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Curassow

Great Curassow

 Crax rubra

Photographed at Discovery Cove, Florida      Mar 2016

The great curassow is a 36-inch tall, hearty bird from southern Mexico to western Ecuador. All great curassows have a peak of forward-curling feathers on their heads, and long tails. The base of the great curassow's bill is yellow with a round bulge. The coloring of the females varies; they can be black or chestnut-colored with black or white bars and their heads and crest may be striped with black and white. The males are a lustrous blue or black, and have white bellies. They have long lifespans (up to 24 years!) and a low rate of reproduction.

The male curassow leads his family and whistles when there are signs of danger. Females lay two eggs at a time. Curassows are monogamous and travel in pairs or in small groups. The group can communicate by grunting. Like chickens, they tend to run rather than fly.

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Cubalaya

Cubalaya (Gypsy) Chicken

 (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Photographed in Key West Florida     Nov 2013

By 1860, Cubans began to move to Key West during the Ten Years' War and brought their love for cock fighting with them. Luckily, the southernmost city outlawed cockfighting in 1970's, putting the Cubalaya chickens out of business, and out on the streets of Key West.

Female

The Cubalaya was developed in Cuba from several different Game breeds during the late nineteenth century and was standardized as a breed in 1939. Though the parentage of the Cubalaya is strictly Games it has never been used in the Pit of cock fighting. Instead, the breed was developed for its beauty and ability to produce meat and eggs. Also known as the Gypsy Chickens of Key West.

We now have what we call 'Gypsy Chickens'. Like in the 1970's, they are still protected, and make their home in the Key West. 

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