I think anyone could tell you that chickens generally don't make
good household pets...
Parakeets, on the other hand, are wonderful companions. They're
low to no-maintenance, semi-intelligent, faithful to the owner, and
relatively easy to clean up after.
Actually, the one that died recently was my second parakeet; the
first one flew away several years ago when I made the supremely
stupid mistake of leaving the cage, kitchen and garage doors all
open one muggy summer afternoon. He heard the other birds outside
chirping and bolted out of the house via the garage. Stupid
bird...
I dunno man .... I went to my friend's house in toon town the
other time ..... she and her brother had two tame parakeets flying
around the house .... one lighted on my hand ....
and shat on it .... 
