So one of my chickens at my Lakeview home was slain while valliantly fighting a giant. While he will be missed I must replace him, however my steward doesn't give me the option when I talk to him. Any advice?

Once you get the maximum number of chickens (usually 3) you cannot get any more. If you want to be able to replace fatalities, maybe next time just get one chicken. I prefer losing no chickens so just reload a save and try again.

That is good to know for future reference, unfortunately I purchased 3 chickens at Windstad Manor already

I noticed that even if you purchase three chickens, you only get one nest, therefore, can only harvest one egg. I'm sticking with just one chicken from now on, because it's a waste of septims otherwise. If I'm not gonna get my money's worth out of them with the occasional egg, they don't deserve a place with me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFIZfuDLEy8

You mean to tell me it didn't win? That is a huge surprise!

Did it look to anyone else that when the archers all lined up, they were aiming at his knees?

I noticed that as well. The single nest appears on the far left side. It's clear from looking at it that two more nests were intended to appear alongside of it with the purchase of two more chickens. So it seems somebody botched this. Furthermore, if we can replace both the cow and the horse, then there's no reason we shouldn't be able to replace chickens.

I doubt they botched it, the size of the nest enclosure never made any difference any where else to how many nests were in it.

I just checked four other nest enclosures. They have two nests each, equally spaced. I haven't seen any enclosures with a single nest positioned on the far left side with a great deal of wasted space to the right of it--- except at these new lots.

Good news everyone! After having not gone to my house for quite a few days I returned to find that the third Chicken had respawned! It would seem that while they can't be replaced they will come back after enough time has passed. I assume they work something like other npc respawns and that when the house 'resets' they come back.

The egg in the invisible nest hatched!

Great news! So either your steward tops up your flock occasionally, or that lonely nest has eggs that hatch.

Awesome video. xS