Our favorite hens have always been Buff Orpingtons, and we have always named all of them Ethel. My best hen ever (Ethel) used to stay out in the evening and wait for me to call her, and come running for me to pick her up and carry her to the coop.
So now, when I have chicks old enough to move to the big coop, I spend time with them each day "Ethel-izing" them. This involves encouraging them to sit on my lap, cuddling them, feeding them - basically insuring they can never be considered actual livestock. It is really a wonderful activity.