I call it the Morning Mealworm Ritual. Every morning after breakfast, I go out to the barn and dig two handfuls of dry mealworms out of the can where they are kept. I dump them on the floor of the barn and make a clucking sound.
The Imperious Hens come running and devour the worms, one by one.
Food is the language with which we most easily communicate with animals, the hens and I both seem to enjoy this quiet time together. I get to observe them, they get a healthy source of protein.