Keep on building that chicken

November 26, 2021 12:33 PM

Carol Off of CBC's "As It Happens" interviews Jim Puckett , the mayor of Fitzgerald, Georgia, who stands by a "giant topiary chicken that got him ousted as mayor." Roadside America: World's Largest Chicken Under Construction, and an earlier NPR interview with Puckett [both interviews are available as audio or an edited transcript]. Fitzgerald is home to a population of wild chickens.

Local TV news coverage:

Fitzgerald, Georgia mayor hopes giant chicken topiary will bring tourists, business

Construction of 62-foot chicken underway in south Georgia

posted by mandolin conspiracy (25 comments total)

Mayor Puck builds Major Cluck, loses Voter Luck.
posted by Superilla at 1:02 PM on November 26, 2021 [4 favorites]

Cockblocked.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:05 PM on November 26, 2021 [10 favorites]

Other than a giant, incomplete topiary chicken, is there any reason to visit Fitzgerald, that’s not immediately obvious?
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 1:19 PM on November 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

Ok, $291000 in public funds from a population of 9000 does seem like a lot, but I would go pretty far out of my way to spend a night in a giant hedge-chicken.
posted by rodlymight at 1:22 PM on November 26, 2021 [8 favorites]

I think you meant to say cluckblocked.
posted by slkinsey at 1:22 PM on November 26, 2021 [5 favorites]

I am reminded of a book I read some years ago: Great Mambo Chicken. The author had no idea.
posted by adamrice at 1:22 PM on November 26, 2021

Honestly, it seems no stranger - and probably more practical - than many giant X things in small towns all over.

Special avian shoutout to Maxie, the World's Largest Goose in Sumner, MO (pop. 131).
posted by ZaphodB at 1:33 PM on November 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

1) I am 100% here for giant hedge chicken

2) I want to hear more about Topiary Joe, but alas I think whatever fic my head has created about Topiary Joe is probably better than the reality (though god I hope not)
posted by Kitteh at 1:34 PM on November 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

Special avian shoutout to Maxie, the World's Largest Goose in Sumner, MO (pop. 131).

Huh. Eat your heart out, Wawa!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:49 PM on November 26, 2021 [3 favorites]

Ahem. I was remiss in not including a direct link to the Fitzgerald chicken cam.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:00 PM on November 26, 2021 [2 favorites]

> Cockblocked.
> I think you meant to say cluckblocked.

Cluckolded
posted by at by at 4:59 PM on November 26, 2021 [4 favorites]

In case you missed the passing references in the small text in the Roadside America link or the Fox5 Atlanta piece (or perhaps if you did catch them but don't know where Marietta is), Georgia ALREADY HAS A GIANT CHICKEN.
posted by solotoro at 6:10 PM on November 26, 2021 [3 favorites]

I think he's right on the money with the "Doing this for publicity, and look, WE GOT SOME" about it. Go Mayor Cluck.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:11 PM on November 26, 2021 [3 favorites]

this costs the same as one pilot's helmet for (or an 8h flight of) an F35 fighter jet and it's far more of a deterrent/attraction than either of those....
posted by lalochezia at 8:08 PM on November 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

Cackled at the post title. Well done.
posted by Fuego at 8:14 PM on November 26, 2021 [4 favorites]

Ok, $291000 in public funds from a population of 9000 does seem like a lot….

Wait, I just did the math and that's like $32 per resident. Come on, people!
posted by rodlymight at 8:33 PM on November 26, 2021 [3 favorites]

Please forgive the derail, but I must say, the name 'Carol Off' sounds like something Scrooge would spray liberally around the outside of his front door every year around Christmas.

Don't mind me, though, please carry on...
posted by zaixfeep at 8:41 PM on November 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

I think he's right on the money with the "Doing this for publicity, and look, WE GOT SOME" about it. Go Mayor Cluck.

Why a 9000 person town needs publicity is left unexplained. The mayor says they're a great town that needs a hook; the counterargument is that they really don't.
posted by mark k at 11:01 PM on November 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

An election most fowl.
posted by clavdivs at 7:21 AM on November 27, 2021

Outstanding post title.
posted by Sphinx at 10:04 AM on November 27, 2021

I assume like every other small town, they need incoming tourists and business and whatever so the town doesn't die.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:14 AM on November 27, 2021 [2 favorites]

It’s the topiary aspect I can’t really wrap my head around. Who’s gonna pay to spend a night in a shrubbery?
posted by panglos at 2:48 PM on November 27, 2021

Some would for the novelty. I probably would. It's sleeping in an ice hotel that stumps me, and people do that every year...
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:25 PM on November 27, 2021 [1 favorite]

It’s the topiary aspect I can’t really wrap my head around. Who’s gonna pay to spend a night in a shrubbery?

People who'd like to hedge their bets on accommodations?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:13 PM on November 27, 2021 [5 favorites]

He's already said that we're definitely too much into the chicken to not finish it.

Ah, a sunk cost fowl, I see
posted by credulous at 10:52 AM on November 28, 2021 [7 favorites]