Years ago, on a visit to Hoover’s Hatchery, we spotted a bumper sticker that read, “Yep, I talk to my CHICKENS” It made us laugh, and then it made us think So we will ask the question plainly: Can chickens be pets? The short answer is yes Plenty of backyard keepers treat their birds like cherished members of the family, and the birds often seem to return the affection Whether a chicken counts as a true pet, though, depends a lot on your perspective and the kind of relationship you build with your flock