If you could only have a single chicken, purely as a PET...?

[Aji Dulce]

I’d get a blue Cochin and hand raise it and keep it with me constantly as a pullet and chick. Or I’d get a duck or goose and raise it the same way with imprinting

But what about chickens needing other chix? I understood they are happiest in a flock.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Bearded silkie for me. Although I’m always on the go so it’d be cruel to leave it home alone all day.

 

[lena_]

Production RIRs are probably my favorite laying birds. I don't understand why they have so many haters.

Me neither, we had an RIR who would foster anything. If it was small and fluffy, she'd almost instantly turn broody, and let it snuggle in her feathers.
The rooster we had was very docile he wouldn't attack us or anything else.
Never had an agressive RIR hen either. Is it a gamble between super agressive and docile?

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Serama or bantam cochin. And a rooster. Boys are the best.

As for raising, in house, in contact as much as possible with human. Serama from the right breeder are naturally inclined to be social to humans and cochin are as well- but they need to come from a good breeder not a hatchery. They are loving as can be. Charming pets.

I have 3 house boys. Sebright, who's primary trait is crazy and rude, serama who couldn't be any sweeter if he tried, and Magnum, who's a big clumsy polish roo and also very sweet. But also very confused a lot- typical polish. All hair no brains.

My other boy, who lives with the outside flock at my dad's house is a bantam cochin and he couldn't be any better if he tried. He's worth his weight in gold. He was raised outdoor with a broody Japanese bantam hen as his mother and handled regularly throughout his life. You can walk right up and pick him up and he will sleep in your arms when you pet him.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

But what about chickens needing other chix? I understood they are happiest in a flock.

It's best to have a pair. I have a trio now but used to have only 2 house roosters and they do definitely need one another.

I think my serama might be the exception to the rule with that. He loves people so much he thinks he's people. He loves his chickens too, but he would probably do okay if he got enough love as a solo guy. He's never going to be solo though.

They groom eachother, snuggle, sleep together, feed eachother treats- chickens are social animals.

 

[ATeacherChick]

...Um, yeah, right, that would be why I put the whole "outside of the realms of practicality" thing in there

Even if you're bent on keeping a chicken inside, you need to get two at least. Keeping one by itself is only if absolutely necessary, and even then with lots of human companionship.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Yes, of course, we’ve already discussed this to the bones on the other thread

It's been discussed a lot, I know

 

[ATeacherChick]

I think I must have been too vague in my original post, LOL. Let me sort of clarify--I'm not asking this for literal, scientific, physical-results-relevant purposes. Consider it an exercise in creativity. Like, what kind of stable you would build for your Unicorn.

 

[Better Than Rubies]

I'll just say this:
If I could only have one chicken, I'd probably choose a Salmon Faverolle.
If I had to say which chicken breed is my very favorite, I might just say Speckled Sussex.
If I kept an indoor chicken or two, I would probably get a Serama, and maybe Silkie Bantam, too.
And lastly... if I could get multiples of just one breed, I'd probably choose the Swedish Flower Hen.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I would have a barred Plymouth Rock hen or a speckled Sussex or welsummer rooster. And if I could choose a duck, like the others, it would definitely be a Muscovy On second thought, maybe I'm not very good at this game...