I had hens. Of the backyard variety. I thought they were really neat, funny, and pretty smart. But I never wished to kiss one of them. :) In fact, I only picked one up if I had to move it for some reason.
I would pet them a bit sometimes. I can understand how people get really attached to them, but they DO scratch around in their own poo all day after all. Eck.
My hens contracted sometime this spring from the soil and all died. Happens. Any animal can give you the never get over - dogs, chickens, mad cows, etc.
I’m sorry you lost your flock. The chicken can seem so durable and tough, it’s easy to forget they need certain conditions present in order to thrive, just like we do.
Always be aware of who is using RoundUp pesticide in your area, and how close that vegetation is to your situation.
This is something you probably know much more about than I do. I’ve never raised chickens.