I used to raise a bunch of "exotic" chickens. Loved them. Cochins were just about the sweetest to me, with silkies being a darn close second.
Chickens that are fed scraps, and eat bugs and grass make eggs that cannot be beat. I really enjoyed letting people taste REAL eggs. Once in a while I'd feed one or two hens on white corn just to get those bland ones to torment people with.
Great pest control, as long as they aren't eating the plants the bugs are on as well. We had six chickens that suddenly developed a love for bean plants. They decimated 2 rows in about two hours.
Love them chickens, but where I am, I'm not zoned for them. I really loved guinea hens too.