Queen Mother of Ybor City chickens, her family tree branches far and wide. Maisie, at barely six inches tall, was clearly ‘in charge’, revered and respected by chickens three times her size, as well as her human fans. Maisie’s cuteness overload never failed to bring a smile to all who knew her. In 2016 Maisie successfully hatched 13 eggs. Amazingly, all 13 chicks survived to adulthood, a nearly impossible feat in the street chicken world. Another rarity….all the chicks hung out with their Mother once they reached adulthood. Eventually some wandered off to their own adventures during the day, but they always returned at night to sleep with their brothers and sisters in one of the trees, while their mother was close by in her own tree. Although Maisie Mae has hatched many chicks, it is the MM13 Clutch that is the inspiration behind the formation of the Ybor Chickens Society., and later the Ybor Misfits Micro-Sanctuary. Her babies always became favorites by default and those who decentded from her bloodline are easily distinguishable by their small statue and puffy cheeks. Sadly, Maisie Mae was taken by a hawk as she tried to protect her final clutch. and some of the beloved MM13 chickens have passed but they will always live on in our hearts and have earned their place of honor. Luckily for us, her legacy lives on – not only in the streets, but at the Misfits sanctuary, where we have Graisie Grae, who was her final chick to hatch.
If you were lucky enough to know Maisie Mae, you still feel her when visiting her old stomping grounds. And if you happen upon a chicken with puffy cheeks….guess who its Mom was!
The Ybor chickens are free roaming street chickens residing, past or present, in Tampa's Ybor City Historic District. The chickens have been here since the 1800's when workers relocated to Tampa from Key West to work in the cigar factories and brought their chickens with them. Although the cigar industry and workers are gone, the descendants of the early chickens remain, along with others who have joined the flock. It's a hard life for them on the busy Tampa streets, but they've adapted and are quite the attraction for visitors and residents alike. We think of them as the jewels of Ybor!
This artwork is a mixed media photo transfer created by hand. The artwork is mounted on a 2" deep wood plaque and is wired for hanging or can stand alone on a shelf. Photo reference provided by Dylan Breese.
**A portion of sales proceeds is donated to the non profit 501(c)3 Ybor Misfits Micro-Sanctuary for rehabilitation and care of the Ybor chickens.
Queen Mother of Ybor City chickens, her family tree branches far and wide. Maisie, at barely six inches tall, was clearly ‘in charge’, revered and respected by chickens three times her size, as well as her human fans. Maisie’s cuteness overload never failed to bring a smile to all who knew her. In 2016 Maisie successfully hatched 13 eggs. Amazingly, all 13 chicks survived to adulthood, a nearly impossible feat in the street chicken world. Another rarity….all the chicks hung out with their Mother once they reached adulthood. Eventually some wandered off to their own adventures during the day, but they always returned at night to sleep with their brothers and sisters in one of the trees, while their mother was close by in her own tree. Although Maisie Mae has hatched many chicks, it is the MM13 Clutch that is the inspiration behind the formation of the Ybor Chickens Society., and later the Ybor Misfits Micro-Sanctuary. Her babies always became favorites by default and those who decentded from her bloodline are easily distinguishable by their small statue and puffy cheeks. Sadly, Maisie Mae was taken by a hawk as she tried to protect her final clutch. and some of the beloved MM13 chickens have passed but they will always live on in our hearts and have earned their place of honor. Luckily for us, her legacy lives on – not only in the streets, but at the Misfits sanctuary, where we have Graisie Grae, who was her final chick to hatch.
If you were lucky enough to know Maisie Mae, you still feel her when visiting her old stomping grounds. And if you happen upon a chicken with puffy cheeks….guess who its Mom was!
The Ybor chickens are free roaming street chickens residing, past or present, in Tampa's Ybor City Historic District. The chickens have been here since the 1800's when workers relocated to Tampa from Key West to work in the cigar factories and brought their chickens with them. Although the cigar industry and workers are gone, the descendants of the early chickens remain, along with others who have joined the flock. It's a hard life for them on the busy Tampa streets, but they've adapted and are quite the attraction for visitors and residents alike. We think of them as the jewels of Ybor!
This artwork is a mixed media photo transfer created by hand. The artwork is mounted on a 2" deep wood plaque and is wired for hanging or can stand alone on a shelf. Photo reference provided by Dylan Breese.
**A portion of sales proceeds is donated to the non profit 501(c)3 Ybor Misfits Micro-Sanctuary for rehabilitation and care of the Ybor chickens.