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Chicken security, bring me my CHICKEN!

That’s a sentence that only makes sense if you’re in a hyperbolic parallel universe or in San Pedro, Belize.

San Pedro has made a fun tradition of gambling on chicken poop. Yes… you bet on a spot where you hope the chicken will poop and win you some money.

But What is the Chicken Drop?

Chicken Drop is one of Ambergris Caye’s oldest and most famous traditions. It is a fun gambling game on a giant bingo-like board placed on the beach sand, where you bet on which number a chicken will “drop” its poop.

It’s a great activity to have fun with friends, family, and even strangers while having the opportunity to win some cash. Typically, the prize is $100 BZD, but sometimes it can be more.

World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize

The game, which is hosted every Thursday starting at 5:00 pm (sometimes at 7:00 pm) at Wahoo’s Lounge, looks almost like a bingo game without the golden age crowd and with a lot more booze.

Note: Wahoo’s Lounge moved in 2022 to Corona Del Mar Hotel, south of town. Check the latest game times, as they might change.

How to Play the Chicken Drop

To participate, you purchase a ticket to bet on a number between 1 and 100 where you think the chicken will “drop.” To win, of course, the chicken must poop on your number.

All you have to do during the game is cheer and lure the chicken to “drop” on your number.

Now, here’s how the game goes…

World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
You buy your ticket for any of the 5 Chicken Drop rounds of the night – starting at 7:00 pm and following every half hour. Tickets cost $1BZD and are up for sale from 6:00 pm.
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
Once the Chicken Drop round which you bought tickets for is about to start, you find a spot near the ring to cheer for the chicken.
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
The host and crowd get ready to start the “show”.
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
A volunteer is selected from the crowd to do the honor of shaking the chicken. He calls for the chicken with the phrase, “Chicken security, bring me my chicken!”
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
The volunteer swirls and shakes the chicken before putting, or throwing it, inside the ring…
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
But, before putting it inside the ring, he has to blow the chicken’s rear. Maybe to stimulate it?!
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
The crowd cheers and screams to the chicken to lure it to the number they bet. The only rule they have is that you cannot touch the chicken.
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
Some contestants even use corn to lure the chicken to their spot and to stimulate them to poop.
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
Sometimes the chickens are not in the mood of pooping, so that’s when they use their chicken backups. The whole swirl, shake, and blow ritual is also performed with the backup chicken.
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
The chicken poops and the crowd celebrate! Especially the winner… the owner of spot #48.
World Famous Chicken Drop, San Pedro, Belize
But, before the winner can claim his $100 BZD, he has to clean the “drop”!

Without a doubt, this is an interesting game that has become part of the pop culture of San Pedro.  Below is a video that shows the Chicken Drop in action.

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13 Comments

    1. Really?! Nice! The chicken drop is going places! haha. And it is so funny to watch, especially the people playing it!

      Reply

    1. On the 1 to 10 scale of randomness, it has a 10! I literally couldn’t believe it the first time someone told me about this game. 🙂

      Reply

    1. haha… well, at least they give you napkins to do it. But hey, I would clean a small chicken drop for $50 US. 🙂

      Reply

      1. I keep a half a dozen chickens in my yard for eggs so I have experience with how they react to stress. The chickens at the event were perfectly calm, absolutely not acting stressed or anxious. They are plump, well fed, feathers look healthy. They were handled more gently than how most farmers would.

        Reply