BANGKOK, Thailand – A surprising pet trend is taking off among young urban residents in China, where chickens are increasingly being kept not as farm animals, but as beloved household companions.
Across social media platforms, videos and posts featuring pet chickens have amassed more than 3.1 billion views, reflecting a rapidly growing fascination with the birds as part of modern lifestyle culture.
One viral creator, a woman from Guangdong province known online as “A Kwai,” gained widespread attention after raising Taihe black-boned silky fowl, also known as Taihe Silkie chickens, a breed known for its distinctive fluffy appearance and perceived nutritional and traditional medicinal value.
Her experience began unexpectedly when she received three eggs from a relative, which later hatched. Instead of treating the chicks as livestock, she chose to keep them due to their soft, toy-like appearance and gentle behavior—even though chicken is a common food in the region.
After raising them for around 10 months, she described them as “perfect pets,” noting that they are small, easy to care for, low-cost, and generally healthy when kept in small numbers. She said monthly feeding costs can be less than 30 yuan (about 150 baht).
The trend has expanded beyond her case, with many other chicken owners online sharing videos of their birds wearing custom-made outfits such as hats, clothes, diapers, and even tiny shoes. Some owners also place their chickens in strollers when going outside, treating them much like small companion animals.
Supporters of the trend say pet chickens are low-maintenance, do not produce strong odors, and have predictable sleep patterns. Some owners also claim chickens can recognize people, respond to eye contact, and display individual personalities.
“After raising chickens for a long time, I realized they can communicate in their own way, show emotions, and have distinct characters,” one social media user commented. Others said caring for chickens has changed their perspective on farm animals, making them more mindful of animal welfare and more selective about the products they support.
While unconventional, the trend reflects a broader shift in urban pet culture, where traditional boundaries between livestock and companion animals are increasingly being redefined by younger generations online.
