I'm down to one chicken. Poor, lonely Millicent. I don't want to get new ones until she dies, but it's sad to see a poor old hen trotting around without any sisters to keep her company.
I don't think bees are dependent. They do their bee thing and we just provide the hive and nick their honey.
I have been considering bees recently. But it's a lot of arseing about and getting stung just for honey given that I probably eat about a quarter of a jar of honey a year.
I could make mead, I suppose.
I've looked into it. Maintaining the correct hive temperature is critical. Also you have to feed the buzzy little fúckers.