There are so many reasons why someone would want or wouldnt want a chicken in their backyard. There are debates about it and here are some:
Pros
1. Costs incredibly cheap.
When we say cheap, not only does the chicken itself count but also the maintenance of it all. Compared to keeping a dog or a cat for a pet, it is much cheaper to take care of a number of chickens most likely because they are not choosy when it comes to food. You can feed them scraps and table leftovers and they will happily gobble it up. With as little as $2 a day, you can spend on a bunch of layer mash.
2. You can get something from them.
Eggs. Meat. Ornament. Who wouldnt want it? In terms of eggs, it is seldom that you encounter a chicken that cant lay eggs. It is a good source of iron, which is good for the brain. You could either sell these eggs or keep them in your fridge. With meat, every part of a chicken can be eaten. Yes, every. In cases of those who dont want to see their chickens go bye-bye, they raise them as pets and for exhibition purposes.
3. Low maintenance.
Unlike dogs who need everyday grooming and cats who need your undivided attention, chickens need none of those. You dont have to bring them to your vet every once in a while to take shots and doses of vaccines. All you have to do is feed them and supply clean water every day. Their coops must be cleaned at least once a week or twice every month depending on the number of chickens that you own.
4. Fertilizers for free and an instant pest control agent.
These are the two things that chicken raisers love about owning a chicken. When you allow your chickens to roam around your backyard, it is in their nature to peck on whatever it is that catches their interest and their hunger. Chickens love anything that came from the ground most especially the ones that are moving. They eat insects, bugs, worms and the like. For them, these are special treats. Furthermore, it is in their nature to eradicate their internal wastes anywhere they please. But their poops are considered as natural fertilizers that the ground needs to grow plants and root crops in a healthy state.
Cons
1. They are not the best guard pets to have.
While chickens can coo and make familiar sounds, it is not in their nature to bite or coo on anyone they see who looks suspicious. All they can do is grow, eat, and lay eggs. They are also not the ideal pets you would want to have especially if you need a response like waggling of the tail or a purring sound.
2. Chickens are messy.
Indeed. Plus, their poop smells terrible that it can reach certain areas in your house. If youre the type of person who doesnt want to go through enduring hours of cleaning, chickens arent really the pets for you.
3. One for all, all for one.
Well, in terms of getting sick this is a con. Because when one catches flu, everyone gets it too. And if one dies because of that flu, it is expected that every single chicken living with that infected chicken who also got that flu is also going to die after a few days.