I used to ridicule chickens, and I was chastised by some gentle chicken lovers, and then I realized that I didn’t even dislike them, I was just being a smart-ass. My hens are living without Strut, their beautiful but officious and aggressive male guardian. They seem to be doing well without Strut, they move around freely, sleep later, lounge around more in the dirt holes they dig to keep cool. They are gentle and industrious fixtures on the farm, and if I don’t love them, I am increasingly fond of them. If humans behaved as industriously as chickens and did as little harm, we would be living in an improved world.