We always raised Araucana laying hens. They lay blue/green eggs (just the shell) and it's SUPER cool! Here's a pic:
And as for pet chickens....I've had a TON over the years when I was growing up. I had a bunch I used to have sit on my shoulder. I also had several roosters that I had named as pets....and all of them ended up getting butchered sadly. I remember once my dad told me to say goodbye to the several I had before he butchered them....so sad
My favorite breeds to grow were always the Polish breeds. There are quite a few color variants, but they all have very fun feathers on their heads in a big puff-ball. I showed them every year at the county fair (I was a 4-H kid) and I even won the Best of Show award my Jr. and Sr. year in HS! Good times!
