And yes, okay, okay, they have small brains. This can be a hard case to make because, of course, chickens are not rocket scientists. Want more funny chicken stuff that can go head-to-head with any cute cat video? Here you go.

Watch a chicken run and it’s as laugh-out-loud funny as watching John Cleese do a silly walk. Me with Alice who has more going on upstairs than the rest of the flock. Their many unique qualities daily wake me from the ho-humness of regular life. But as the mystery of being a chicken grows larger for me, so does my admiration for them. They can be strange creatures, with their swiveling eyes and herky-jerky steps. Sometimes I like to sit in my yard and watch the chickens being chickens, a refreshing change from watching people being people.Īs the years have passed with chickens (not chicken) in my life, I wish I could say I truly understand these great-great-great-grandchildren of dinosaurs. They enjoy a pretty nice life sitting in the sun, destroying my lawn, taking dust baths, laying eggs, chatting with each other, and hunting for bugs. The reason: six years ago I became one of those city farmers who name their chickens after I brought home a flock to live in my San Francisco backyard. I no longer order chicken or chickens in restaurants. Sometimes I sit in my yard and watch the chickens being chickens, a refreshing change from watching people being people.

In my case, they are live animals running around my garden. But really, why is it so different than, “I love eating chicken”? Because “chicken,” singular, isn’t an actual animal, but a tasty dish. Let me know by leaving a comment below.“I love eating chickens.” Sounds grotesque, right? Nobody says that unless they are a monster or something. What do you think of the story of Sprig? Are there other books you would recommend for permaculture parents for children? Let me know. Gwen the Rescue Hen is now available for pre-order at. If you are a parent of younger children, as I say somewhere in that 6 to 9 range, I recommend that you pick this up and start to share these stories and your values with your children.

I really like Leslie’s non-confrontational and non-judgemental tone to the story of Sprig, that shows us what is possible in expanding our relationships and connection to the natural world and other than human, in a beautiful way through Leslie's expressive language and the delightful illustrations by Sonya Stangl. You can purchase the book at or look for it wherever you buy books. Sprig The Rescue Pig, published by Stone Pier Press, is distributed by Chelsea Green Publishing.

Gwen the Rescue Hen by Leslie Crawford