I dreamed I lived in a stalinist state where keeping chickens had become mandatory

[Sir C]

Why does one 'keep' bees, chicken and fish? Why does one not simply 'have' them?

Is it because they are dependent?

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.