My hardworking hens have been enjoying some extra freedom lately. I had been keeping them locked up until noon, so they wouldn’t squirrel their eggs away, but I decided to give all-day free-ranging a try, and these hens are well trained, obediently returning to the coop to lay their eggs.

As silly as I’m sure some think I am, I love my little flock of chickens, and the joy in the colorful basket of eggs at the end of the day doesn’t wear off, or the satisfaction in feeding my family, or of being able to provide friends and neighbors with delicious, homegrown eggs. The hens all have funny quirks and habits, like racing down to the horse corral in the morning to try to get in on breakfast, or coming running when they see me walking down from the house with a bucket, and it is such a peaceful sight to look down at the coop in the afternoon when they’re all spread out across the yard scratching contentedly away.

After all, it really is the little things.