Chickens are domesticated animals found throughout The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. They are most commonly found in villages or farms. There are consequences for killing a chicken. Even though the bounty is as low as 45 , the townsfolk will attempt to kill the violator if they get the chance. The Chicken has a damage of two, making it the weakest animal in the game.
After purchasing Honeyside, the player can buy a garden upgrade that gives them two Chickens. These two don't appear to lay any eggs, preferring instead to simply wander around outside (killing them won't give any bounty, but Iona may attack on sight).
With Hearthfire, each new home constructed may have up to three chickens, which do lay eggs. (Cost 25 each). The purchase must be arranged by the estate's Steward and there must be an animal pen there.
During development, there was a minor bug that allowed chickens to report crimes. Todd Howard: "...this was a bug – lately we realized that chickens were reporting crimes. I found that very funny. That was just last week: Why are we getting caught? Oh, the CHICKENS are reporting the crimes! That actually took us a while to track down, that bug. Like, why is this happening? (Laughs)".
If no other body is available, dead chickens will be brought back to life by necromancers.
Its impossible not to kill a chicken in one hit since the weakest weapon the iron sword does 8 damage.
Pushing a wooden cart over a chicken will kill it without it being looked at as a crime. The player is still able to loot the chicken afterward and the Dragonborn will not earn a bounty.