FITZGERALD, Ga. — In 2021, folks in Fitzgerald had a plan to build the world's largest chicken. The idea was to make a topiary and Airbnb, but the original chicken plans have been scratched.
The original idea was funded through $150,000 in SPLOST. Once that money ran out and Mayor Jason Holt was sworn in, Tony Tucker said the project stalled.
"The only way it's not going to cost any money was for it to sit still and it was an eye soar. Tearing it down would of cost quite a bit of money. Building it on up, putting a skin on it or whatever would have been even more," Tucker said.
Tucker is the city building inspector. He's been working on the chicken for years but uses it as his side project. Shortly after the big chick was postponed, Tucker was tasked with working with the original build.
"Finish the framing up, let's put some lights on it see if we can dress it up and make it look better and to me just in the framing finishing, it's starting to look better and come about," Tucker said.
In November, the framing was painted and a fence was added to help keep the rooster and its visiting chicks safe. Tucker started to install lights, so this big chick could hatch new life at night
"As far as the lighting, we're going to finish it up right now we just have half of the head lit up. We're going to completely outline the entire chicken. I have eight different channels to work with so I can do eight different sections of the chicken in different colors," Tucker said.
Tracy Bower grew up in Fitzgerald. He believes people should view the rooster as a booster of the economy.
"Try to be a little more progressive and understand what that chicken was there for. It was to help with the tourism. We have what's called every year a wild chicken festival and it draws people from all over the state, and all over the southeast, and all over the country really and they come from far and near to see the chicken in Fitzgerald, Georgia and that's a draw for it and it's good for the economy when they do," Bower said.
Tucker is working to get the big bird glowing soon.
"I just simply got to finish the metalwork. That's going to take some time but I see it being done here in the next few months," Tucker said.
For now, just the rooster's head will be lit every night from 5:30 p.m. until midnight. You can check in on him anytime through Fitzgerald's live chicken camera on YouTube.