Video: Chicken On the 6 Train, No Big Deal

New York City's transformation from affluent global capital to agrarian provincial backwater continues apace: Now people are packing into the subway with their barnyard animals. Last night blogger "Kylie" was riding the 6 train with a chicken and the man (Borat?) who loves it. Oh, horse apples, the guy's even wearing an MTA shirt! Good thing there weren't any hamsters on board, or things really would have gotten crazy. Kylie tells us:

We boarded the 6 train at 33rd street around 7pm last night, and noticed a large scarcity of passengers in one section of the train. Upon looking down, it I saw first a live chicken, then noticed it was wrapped in the loving arms of an apparent homeless man wearing at MTA shirt.
He kept picking up the chicken, holding it over his head, kissing it, hugging it, and more inappropriate things that I will refrain from detailing. In the simple words of my fellow passenger, Charlotte, "That is straight-up chicken abuse."
No one on the train was shy about photographing this man, as he was seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. It was truly an only-in-New-York event, a phrase that was uttered several times throughout the short ride.

Surreal video, and a statement from the MTA, below:

UPDATE: Deirdre K. Parker, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the MTA, just sent us this statement: "Our Rules of Conduct state that 'no person may bring any animal on or into any conveyance or facility unless enclosed in a container and carried in a manner which would not annoy another person.' The only exceptions are working dogs for law enforcement, service animals and animals training to be service animals by a professional trainer.

"Since the man with the chicken is wearing what looks like an MTA patch on his sweater, I have asked personnel at the Department of Subways to look at the photos to see if he can be identified." Great, now were going to feel terrible if this guy gets fired.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on January 27, 2010 1:50 PM

Comments [rss]

Jon

Fire the guy. He's obviously troubled. People! When you see an idiot on the subway, SAY SOMETHING! Don't just step over them. We are New Yorkers! When did you all get so passive?

gerryvisco

On the other hand, at least he's not eating the chicken.

DangerousHDCs

Animal abuse is not entertainment. The tone of the article and most of the comments is sick.

just saying

Welcome to Gothamist.

dirty hipster

Where's that hasidic cop to arrest this guy and the NY Post to lie and say he's an anti-semite?

Mr. Know-It-All

"A large scarcity of passengers"? A "LARGE SCARCITY of passengers"!?!

WvVolLawGirl

Really ... "that's" your problem with this post?

Wza

Gothamist snitching again.

Streets is watching yo, watch out.

totallyawesomeperson

damn, that S is crazy as H. but i know one thing for sure, i'ma jump on over to the 2pz and get ma read on! that blerg is da bomb! WoooOOOOoootttt, wwwOOOooooOOtttTTT!