I think they are some of the most useful and frugal livestock to get, maintain, transport and reproduce. Rabbits are great for that too, but the chickens can do so much for the land that rabbits cannot. Chicken flocks have helped women down through generations have livestock they can handle, giving many a woman a chance to earn extra money towards household expenses, food, shoes and clothing for the children, etc., that they would not otherwise have had.
Pigs can have large litters, thus giving big rewards....but they also are big eaters and very destructive if left out on the land. Chickens can reproduce their own kind in larger numbers than even pigs and they can do it several times a season without much stress on their bodies or health. They also produce food daily, unlike the pigs. Their meat is healthier for you than most other livestock, their eggs are perfectly packaged protein capsules, their feathers can make pillows, mattresses and coverings, and even warm clothing.
They actually aerate, reseed and fertilize their own pasture, while removing pest bugs from gardens and orchards. They can even give you a wake up call each morning, depending on when you'd like to wake up. They don't require elaborate housing or fencing, are easily killed and butchered by even young children, and they stay healthy without aid of medicines if managed properly. One can breed into quality birds in a surprisingly short amount of time, much shorter than one can with larger livestock. They don't require special vehicles for transport, are easy to catch and move, and are light on feed. They even give farm dogs a job and entertainment, as they attract predators...without that to spice up their lives, my dogs wouldn't have much to do around here but sleep and eat.
In short, chickens are ideal livestock for any homestead or farm in just about any climate on the planet. To me they just make sense...if one has a reasonable amount of land to keep a flock fed and healthy, if it's hospitable to chicken life, there should be chickens on it.
YES!! BEST answer ever!!
