Beloved chicken picks an unusual place to roost — a Louisiana Popeyes, video shows
A Popeyes in southern Louisiana has a feathered fan that it can’t seem to shake, to the delight of many customers.
A stoutly rooster has seemingly taken up residence at the Popeyes on East Gause Boulevard in Slidell, becoming a community “icon” of sorts, according to the police department.
“We literally have a chicken who has made himself at home,” officers captioned a video posted on the department’s Facebook page on Friday, June 10. “It’s literally there all.the.time! That’s one brave chicken.”
The 30-second clip shows the bird standing outside his new stomping ground as the Popeyes jingle plays in the background. The video has racked up more than 26,000 views since then, eliciting jokes and laughter from regulars of the fried chicken chain.
“They have the freshest chicken,” one Facebook user commented under the department’s video, followed by several laughing emojis.
“He’s standing guard for his fallen brethren,” someone else joked.
The rooster, affectionately known as Rocco, has gained a family and internet fame since he arrived after Hurricane Ida last year, police spokesman Daniel Seuzeneau told McClatchy News.
“There was a lot of effort into trying to find the rightful owner, but no one ever came forward,” Seuzeneau said. “Now the chicken lives and is maintained by employees at Popeyes and some Slidell citizens.”
Muhassin Shepherd, a general manager at the Popeyes location, said employees have even built him a coop behind the restaurant, WWL-TV reported. Customers now flock to see him, as he’s hard to miss.
“He’ll go around to the front door, look around,” Shepherd told the news station. “He’ll go around to the window, the drive-thru window and just look.”
Facebook users have shared photos of their own showing Rocco perched on a pillar near the drive-thru window or strutting outside the building. The unusual sight often leaves out-of-town visitors very confused, according to one Facebook user.
“It is so funny!” Dianne Marshall commented under the police department’s post. “Love when I am in the drive thru & I see someone with an out of state plate park & realize there’s a chicken in the parking lot. They always have the weirdest look on their face.”
Rocco has since cemented himself as the restaurant’s new mascot, at least according to his Facebook fan page.
“He is now a local icon to the area!” Seuzeneau said.
Slidell is about 30 miles northeast of downtown New Orleans.
This story was originally published June 13, 2022 at 11:11 AM with the headline "Beloved chicken picks an unusual place to roost — a Louisiana Popeyes, video shows."