5 STARS ARE NOT ENOUGH.  I cherish this book.  It's wonderful -- quite literally, 'full of wonders'.  Although it purports to reveal the secrets of 'chicken whispering' and does, it goes a great deal further than that.  Those fortunate enough to have gallinaceous companions will gain much from a thoughtful reading.  So will anyone else who seeks to enhance their kinship with other living creatures, humans included. The deepest and most precious secret to achieving that end is the development of an empathic connection, a process which Mr. Conley details in a manner both concise and poetic. I wish I could give him at least ten stars in return for the joy his work has given me.  Like all great authors, he is a heart whisperer. —Natasha K.