It’s a rare sight. You’re trekking through a dark cavern or sprinting across a moonlit plain in Minecraft when you see it—a baby zombie, tiny and terrifying, zooming toward you on the back of a panicked chicken. It shouldn’t work. The physics are a mess. Yet, it’s one of the most iconic "oh no" moments in gaming history. When Funko decided to immortalize this chaos, they created the Chicken Jockey Funko Pop, and honestly, it remains one of the most distinctive figures in the entire Minecraft line.
Most Funko figures follow a pretty standard template. Big head, small body, standing still. But the Chicken Jockey? It’s a dynamic, multi-character mess of plastic that captures the sheer absurdity of Mojang’s RNG.
The Weird History of the Chicken Jockey Funko Pop
Let’s talk numbers. Specifically, the number 14. That’s where this figure sits in the Minecraft Funko Pop series. It was released back in early 2018, during a massive wave of Minecraft merchandise that finally started treating the game like the cultural titan it is.
Finding a Chicken Jockey in the actual game is a statistical headache. A baby zombie has a 5% chance of spawning. If that baby zombie checks for a chicken in a 10x10x10 area and finds one, it becomes a jockey. If it doesn't find one, it has a 5% chance of spawning already riding a chicken. Do the math, and you’re looking at a roughly 0.25% chance in any given spawn attempt. That rarity is exactly why the Chicken Jockey Funko Pop resonated so well with the community. It wasn't just another Steve or Alex. It was a trophy.
The figure itself is stylized, obviously. Funko didn’t go for the hyper-blocky 1:1 ratio. Instead, they softened the edges. You’ve got the baby zombie—its skin a specific shade of undead mint—gripping onto the chicken’s neck. The chicken looks exactly how it does in the game: vacant. Those staring, wide eyes that suggest there isn't a single thought behind them.
Design Wins and Box Condition Problems
Collectors are picky. I’ve seen enough forum posts on r/funkopop to know that the Minecraft boxes are a nightmare to keep mint. Because the Chicken Jockey Funko Pop is wider than your average figure, it fills the box awkwardly. The chicken’s tail and the zombie’s posture create multiple points of contact with the inner plastic.
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If you’re hunting for this today, you’ll notice something. The paint on the chicken's beak is often the first thing to go. It’s a small, protruding detail that rubs against the blister pack. It’s annoying. But from a design perspective, Funko nailed the "ride" mechanic. They didn't just glue two figures together; they sculpted them as a single, cohesive unit. It feels heavy in the hand compared to a hollow Steve figure.
Why collectors still care about it
Value isn't just about price tags. It’s about the story. For a lot of people, Minecraft was the first "infinite" world they explored. The Chicken Jockey represents the game's unpredictability.
- It’s a double figure. You’re basically getting two characters for the price of one.
- It represents a specific "glitch-turned-feature" vibe.
- The colors pop. The bright yellow of the beak against the green skin is high-contrast and looks great on a shelf.
Price-wise, this isn't a $500 Grail. It’s accessible. You can usually find it on the secondary market—sites like eBay or Mercari—for anywhere between $15 and $35 depending on the box condition. It hasn't seen a massive "vaulted" price spike like some of the metallic variants, but it’s steadily becoming harder to find in retail "damaged box" bins.
The Minecraft Funko Lineup Context
To understand why the Chicken Jockey Funko Pop is a standout, you have to look at what it was competing with. The initial wave had the basic Steve in Gold Armor, Alex in Enchanted Armor, and the Ocelot. They were fine. But they were static.
Then came the Creeper. The Creeper is the face of the brand, so it obviously sold well. But the Chicken Jockey brought a sense of movement. It looks like it's in the middle of a chase. If you line up the entire 2018 wave, your eyes naturally gravitate toward the jockey because it breaks the vertical silhouette of the other figures.
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A Note on Counterfeits
Because Minecraft is a global brand, bootlegs exist. For the Chicken Jockey, the biggest giveaway is the "sheen." Real Funko Pops have a matte finish with very specific light reflectivity. If you see one that looks oily or has "seams" running down the middle of the zombie’s head, stay away. The box art should have a crisp, "dirt block" pattern. If the green pixels on the box look blurry, it's a fake.
Also, check the bottom of the feet. There should be a small serial number (like JJL or FAC) that matches the sticker or stamp on the bottom of the box. If those don't match, you've got a franken-pop.
How to Display the Chicken Jockey Funko Pop
Most people just stick them on a shelf and call it a day. Boring.
If you really want to make the Chicken Jockey Funko Pop look good, you need height. Because the chicken is low to the ground, it can get lost behind other figures. Use a clear acrylic riser. Put it next to the exploding Creeper or the Enderman to create a "survival mode" tableau.
Some collectors go the extra mile and build mini-biomes. Since Minecraft is literally made of blocks, it’s the easiest game in the world to DIY a display for. A few green and brown LEGO bricks or even some painted foam blocks can turn a plastic figure into a diorama. It makes the "jockey" aspect of the figure feel like it's actually traversing terrain.
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Why Mojang and Funko Stopped
We haven't seen a massive influx of new Minecraft Funko Pops lately. The focus shifted toward the "Minecraft Legends" or "Minecraft Dungeons" spin-offs for a while, and then things went quiet on the vinyl figure front. This makes the older pieces like the Chicken Jockey Funko Pop even more valuable to those who want a complete set of the "OG" mobs.
The game has changed a lot since 2018. We have Wardens now. We have Sniffers. We have Allays. If Funko ever returns to the main line, they’ll have a huge backlog of mobs to pull from. But the Chicken Jockey remains a relic of that middle era of Minecraft—after the initial indie explosion but before the hyper-corporate metaverse era. It’s a piece of history.
Practical Steps for New Collectors
If you're just starting your Minecraft collection, don't rush into the first listing you see. Here is how you actually get a good deal on a Chicken Jockey Funko Pop without getting ripped off or buying a crushed box.
- Check Local Comic Shops First: These often have "used" sections where they buy collections from kids who grew out of the game. You can often snag them for $10 because the shop owners don't realize some Minecraft fans are now adults with disposable income.
- Inspect the "Window": The clear plastic on the box is prone to scuffing. If you're an "In-Box" collector, ask for photos of the window under a direct light. Scratches here are permanent.
- Verify the Stamp: I mentioned this before, but seriously, look at the bottom of the box. There should be a pressed-in serial number. It’s not printed; it’s physically stamped into the cardboard. No stamp? No buy.
- Look for the "Chase" Myth: There is no official "Chase" version of the Chicken Jockey. If someone tries to sell you a "rare glow-in-the-dark" version that doesn't have an official Funko sticker, it’s a custom or a scam. Know the official variants before you drop extra cash.
Owning a Chicken Jockey Funko Pop is basically a nod to other players. It says you know about the weird side of the game. You’ve been in that cave. You’ve felt that panic. And now, you have a 4-inch tall version of that stress sitting on your desk. It’s weird, it’s blocky, and it’s perfectly Minecraft.
Keep an eye on the second-hand market trends. As the Minecraft movie buzz picks up, these older mob figures are likely to see a surge in interest from nostalgic fans looking to reclaim their childhood favorites. Grab one now while they're still hovering around retail-adjacent prices. After that, the only way you'll find one is by paying "vaulted" premiums to someone who kept theirs in a protector for six years.