Most definitely. Chickens aren't humans, although they are life which I think should be respected, they are chickens bred for a purpose, so that's ridiculous. Know what else you may find ridiculous, if you were local I would offer the chicken a home rather than it be killed. :) I'm not so far out there that I don't know the difference between a human and a chicken though.
Hypothetically, if I made a joke about the car you drive being a junker that would be one thing, but say you own a business and I made a joke about the work you do being sub par even dangerous, then I spread this really funny but inaccurate joke around town, you wouldn't be offended, you would be angry to the point of kicking my ass all over town! There is a difference between being offended and speech that damages another person. Speech can be dangerous.
Check out this film made by the war department. It's aged and lengthy, but makes some great points, everyone should watch it once.. Not that we are worried about nazis so much, but the premise is valid regardless of the group. Should all words be protected as free speech?
http://www.openfirepolitics.com/fascist.html