A man in Florida walked into a bar and got into a heated argument about how many eggs chickens can lay … and then he grabbed a gun and opened fire … and no, this isn’t a joke.

Cops in Port St. Lucie say 44-year-old Peter Riera fired shots Tuesday morning outside Harper’s Pub … and police body camera footage, obtained by TMZ, shows Riera being taken into custody.

Police say Riera got into an argument with three people outside the pub who he claimed were trying to con him.

Riera raises chickens and the dispute was about how many eggs chickens can lay … cops told WPTV-TV.

For some reason, the argument got heated and Riera allegedly fired four shots from a .45-caliber Glock. Cops say Riera was paranoid and thought the folks he was arguing with were out to get him.

Cops say everyone involved was drinking … and, fortunately, no one was injured.

Riera is being held without bond as he faces multiple criminal charges … and two of the people he allegedly shot at ended up getting arrested during the police response. They were busted for resisting officers.

Congressman Pat Harrigan has been keeping up with Harvey Levin‘s OWTA — which stands for “Out With Their Asses” — and he told us on TMZ Live he’s on board.

With the federal government shutdown now in its record-setting 37th day, Harrigan told us, “The only thing that’s assured during a government shutdown is that the American people lose, and we’re watching the American people lose in real time.”

And for that reason, the Republican representing North Carolina thinks Harvey makes a good point by proposing every congressperson’s office be up for grabs next election.

Denzel Curry and Armani White’s friendly game of basketball was interrupted Thursday … when the rap stars had to gang up on a vagrant sleazing around the park who was threatening to kill the kids!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained video of the “GOATED.” collaborators at Plummer Park in West Hollywood from earlier this afternoon … draped in hooping gear but heavily focused on the timeout they took to address a man sitting in the grass.

Our tipster says the group had just finished playing HORSE when Denzel, Armani and another player approached the man … after hearing him scream at the children playing on the jungle gym, “I will kill all these kids and burn their fucking bodies!!!”