I don't think it really has much to do with the chicken itself. Maybe people just want to make something soft and silly to keep around, which will make them feel at ease and satisfied. When the world is too noisy, it can make you laugh and relax. It doesn't require you to feed it, and it won't make a mess at home! In a sense, this is not following the trend, but looking for a kind of comfort, a feeling of "I am not alone".