My favorite aspect of owning chickens is what they give me back in return. Ever since I was young, I had poultry of some type or another- and each bird becomes special to me, regardless if they have names. When I give them food, water, shelter and time to free-range, they give me back eggs, entertainment, and acceptance. Even when I've been gone for months, my ladies still recognise me, and run to gather around my feet.
When you have a special bird, or 20, who are always happy to see you, it brightens up my day. One of my hens who I've had since she was a chick can't resist running up to me and hopping on my lap, even when I don't have food for her.
Its the animal-human bond that I love most- they need us, and we need them- else, how can we live?