I’ve always been afraid of birds. They’re unpredictable, and they flutter and fly and dive-bomb. And to be fair, birds never really seemed to like me either. I was attacked by a rooster once as a kid, and by a pheasant that flew out of the woods when I was walking home from the bus stop.

But.

I love my chickens.

They’re about three months old now, and they’re finally comfortable enough to wander the whole yard. They’re funny and sweet and friendly, and they – thankfully – don’t do anything too terribly scary, even for someone with a bird phobia like me.