Flying the coop

For 10 years, cookbook author Terry Golson has raised chickens in her backyard. She enjoys their distinct personalities as much as she likes the eggs they produce. Now they have a starring role in her first children's book, "Tillie Lays an Egg" (Scholastic).

Tillie isn't like Golson's other six hens. She lays her eggs not in the henhouse but all over the house and yard. Tins, towels, and other treasures from Golson's collection of keepsakes with a chicken motif infuse Ben Fink's photographs with a sense of nostalgia.

Golson and Tillie will appear at an eggnog and champagne reception at 3 p.m. next Sunday at the Concord Bookshop, 65 Main St., Concord. On Jan. 17, Golson will be signing books at the Northeastern Poultry Congress in West Springfield. After that, she’s ready to take Tillie on the road for story hour at local libraries.

Golson let me in on the story behind the "Tillie" story in an e-mail responding to my questions:

Q: Will you be bringing Tillie or another chicken to your party at the Concord Bookshop?
A:Tillie is a stage name. My late, beloved hen, Snowball was the actress who played her in the book. I have three young hens who are ready to play the part now. Most likely, I'll be bringing Eggers to the party. She is pretty, personable and happy to get attention (better than many stars!)

Q: I see you have a story hour program for libraries -- have any signed up yet?
A: Not yet; several are interested, but are thinking about signing up for springtime events. I've made it inexpensive ($75) so that, in this day of budget cuts, a library can still have something fun and different at story hour.

Q: Any early clues to how the hens will weather the media exposure?
A: They are already used to having fans -- HenCam gets over 10,000 unique visitors monthly. They do love attention - mostly because it involves yummy snacks. Getting bathed for special events is not their favorite thing; a chicken's idea of the perfect bath is loose dirt warmed by the sun. But, sometimes they do need to get soaped up. They don' t like wet, but they love the blow dryer!

Q: Any special media training for them?
A: Actually, yes. Some of my hens are clicker-trained. That's the same type of training that marine mammal trainers use to work with dolphins for aquarium shows. They've been trained to pose and stay-put (not easy for a hen!) They also are comfortable with commotion and new people. It's all done with positive reinforcement. Chickens are easy to please -- they're very food motivated. They are also innately curious, busy, and gregarious, so the training doesn't go against their nature.