The Hens: Living with Small Dinosaurs
The Hens: Living with Small Dinosaurs and the Lessons of Harmonic Living: Animal Communication, Recursion, and the Sovereignty of Every Living Field

They arrived in March of 2023, feathered emissaries of a forgotten world—beaks sharp, eyes bright, and with them, a new chapter I didn’t know I was ready to write. Three chickens, raised from hatchlings by my dear friend Julia, now entrusted to us as she prepared for a move that wouldn’t allow her to take them.
Their names at arrival didn’t stick, and so we renamed them as a sort of welcome rite.
This story is woven in both word and image. Visual collaborators featured in the full Substack story include:
The hens: Madge, Roxy, and Penny
My husband John Vanatta
Their furry sisters Heidi and Raven.
If this glimpse speaks to you, the full reflection is on Substack.
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