Chickens would have to be the most rewarding and eco-friendly pet around. Chickens are nature’s instant re-purposers, turning your left over kitchen scraps into nourishing eggs and at the same time, fertilizing your garden. And all within a single day. They are hilarious, friendly, quirky and great pets. (Although I do acknowledge some people find them very creepy.)
THE BIG BONUS OF TOSSING YOUR HOUSEHOLD SCRAPS TO CHICKENS IS SOURCING EGGS FROM YOUR OWN BACKYARD. NOT ONLY DO YOU GET RID OF YOUR SCRAPS SUSTAINABLY, BUT YOU ARE GETTING THE FRESHEST EGGS FROM WELL LOOKED AFTER CHICKENS AND YOU LITERALLY KNOW WHAT THOSE EGGS ARE MADE OF.
Chickens make excellent working pets and if you get them as day old chicks and raise them yourself. You can even train them and they will always be closer to you if you get them as baby chicks. Most people (sensibly) buy 'point-of-lay' chickens from produce stores and they will always be friendly too if you pick them up from the beginning. Chickens are great pets for little kids and a good way to learn where food comes from.
All councils in Australia will let you keep chickens in your yard, although the amount varies from 4 to 12, dependent upon the council. Most won't let you keep roosters as they are rowdy buggers. Backyard Chicken Coops, who sell this Taj Mahal Coop, have summarised capital city round up of council requirements.
Deciding how many chickens you should keep, the breed and where to keep them can be a challenge - something that is helped enormously by enterprising companies like City Chicks who will now rent you chickens, coops and feeders to help you decide if you really do want to keep them. And give you tons of advice along the way.
Some advice from me, as a chicken keeper for years. Pure bred chickens are pretty, but they generally are more sensitive and lay less eggs - and for a shorter time. Apart from Leghorns, most hybrid chickens are hardy, good producers. Don't put bantams with bigger hens. They will kill them. Also, start with 2 until you know what you are doing and know you want to continue. They are herd animals so one really doesn't work.
Chickens don't require a lot of care, but they do need some, so renting is a perfect way to get started and also to help you decide if keeping chickens is for you.
While you can't keep them in every state, rabbits are also excellent composters & make great pets - a bit like a friendly cat.
While there are a few traps for young players, pretty much all you ever need to know about keeping chickens can be found on google very easily. Keeping chickens is trial and error. The best way to learn is to just go for it.