Urban people embrace poultry pals that are cheap to keep; some say the birds understand words and dress the chooks in hats and shoes
2-MIN READ2-MINZoey ZhangPublished: 9:00am, 27 Apr 2026In several first-tier Chinese cities, chickens, which were once confined to the dinner table, are finding a new role: cherished household companions.
On social media, posts and videos about “pet chickens” have racked up over 3.1 billion views, underscoring how they are reshaping perceptions of pet culture in urban China.
In southeastern China’s Guangdong province, a local saying goes: “No chicken leaves here alive”, a testament to the region’s love of eating poultry.
Yet one woman, Aguai, inadvertently hatched chicks after receiving three fresh eggs from relatives.
Enchanted by their fluff and charm, she decided to spare the tiny birds and give them a chance to live.
