The Difference Between Chickens in the U.S. and Gallinas in Costa Rica.

Other than fried, broiled, or baked I haven’t ever though much about chicken or chickens for that matter.

In Spanish they’re called gallinas (guy-een-as) if they’re walking around or pollo (poy-oh) when they’re fried, broiled or baked. U.S. chickens and Costa Rican chickens are two different species.

At home they come in a wrapper of sorts. Here, they strut their stuff! They are so cool, some even unbelievably beautiful. I have never seen such variety, such poise and grace even. I know what you’re thinking. I’ve been spending too much time in the sun.

I’m fried, broiled or baked, but seriously, you should see these guys. Hens of gold and burgundy, black, gray, green, brown, tan, orange and white, rippled, and striped, speckled, spotted and ringed. And the roosters, gallos (guy-ohs), don’t even get me started!

Jaime (my daughter) and I share Francisco, aka, Frankie. He is the most resplendent russet, brass, henna, teal, emerald, and black male specimen that crows (and don’t they all) I’ve ever seen.

And he knows it. Look in the dictionary. Under rooster it’s Frankie’s picture. Under proud it’s Frankie’s picture. Well, you get the picture. He is magnificent! He’s not alone. There’s a rooster down the road that’s as big as a turkey. Well, probably not but he looks that way because his fathers are all fluffy and puffy. His legs look like huge drum sticks. There’s another one that is the entire range of gold.

And another still that by nature has no feathers on his neck. Kind of points out where to chop. Not too crazy about that one. I’ve seen others that have Mohawk hair-dos and bodies that look like they’ve stuck their beak in a light socket.

Jaime and Rigo (Jaime’s Tico husband) have a unique assembly of fowl. Colors and splendor abound. Too many to count and weekly a new mom with walnut sized chicks at her side.

Each bird has a name. I only know a few, Iron Man, Pixy, Flo, Francisco, Ricardo… It would take six eggs for a single omelet made from Jaime’s chickens. They are a small breed of fowl and her family doesn’t eat them, although Rigo has shown a couple of the loud, early crowers the inside of the neighbor’s pot.

Most Costa Rican chickens roam around freely. They’re great for controlling ticks and other creepy crawly things and their poop is great fertilizer.

People here are serious about their chickens. They take great pride in their gallinas.., of course until they’re hungry.

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Paula and Michael’s daughter Jamie married a young Tico and together they are building a small boutique hotel and spa in the “sweet village of La Florida (the flowered) in Guanacaste. Paula’s articles will give us “little snippets of what life is like in Costa Rica and the trials and tribulations in a land where we don’t speak the language (but are learning), and are trying to construct a building, a business, and a new way of life.”

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.