In a comic explosion of feathers,the hens race to the safety of a compost pile.I wave a dirty dish rag after them, a warning not to gettoo closeto our first outside dinner of the year.They start to creep forward,combs waving,lured by the plates of food we are bringing out.I go to drastic measures, throwing the towel in their midst.The hens raise their wings high,and do a little flying sprintout of the area,shrieking indignantly.

After dinner I go out to the coopand stroke them,listening to their soft clucksas they settle down for the night.They slowly rock and shuffle around on the roost,like they are putting themselves to sleep.I give each hen a pat on the head,then go back to the lit-up house,In sharp contrast with the dark night,leaving them to coo to each other until they fall asleep.