Ah, chickens. There is a certain, almost mystical quality to chickens. They are, after all, small feathered creatures that waddle about with the faint suspicion they could possibly rule the world, if only they could remember where they left their last grain of corn. You, fortunate custodian of this fine flock, live amidst the pastoral splendor of the countryside. Perhaps there’s a faint whiff of manure on the morning breeze, and perhaps the hens—your dainty, bumbling brigade of downy gals—are in fine fettle, producing eggs that could make the gods themselves envious. And isn’t it strange how these feathery little marvels adore a good cuddle? Yes, it's true: nothing quite brings out the noble side of a hen as much as a gentle, cooing snuggle from their human.

Taking care of chickens, as you well know, is no simple task. They are creatures of endless curiosity, a surprisingly sharp sense of social justice (for chickens, that is), and an affinity for creating precisely as much chaos as their wings can carry them. But in their little, beady eyes, perhaps they think the same of you. You are, after all, their towering friend, provider of feed and pats, and the one with the strange, miraculous ability to open gates. And that, dear reader, is a very fine thing to be indeed.