You know, in general I feel like Sanderson does a great job of thinking through his world building and making logical choices, and trying to rationally explain why the really cool stuff exists (like Shardblades being the stock Big Improbable Fantasy Swords but there actually being a reason why they're like that), but the one thing I'm calling bull on is the chickens. I think he just did that because he wanted his characters to be comedically unfamiliar with chickens. You're telling me humanity decided to take pigs into every settlement on this horrible barren storm world, but not chickens? Pigs, which are a. Smart and b. Onery and which would require fences made of stone to keep them from running away, heavy and durable enough not to blow away in the winds, vs. chickens, which are a. Small, and b. Easy To Care For, which can be taught to return to their roost after free-ranging everywhere and eating every tiny cremling and bit of plant life they can find? Yeah I don't buy that. He knew the characters needed leather and he thought the chicken thing was funny. And you know what? He's right. He can have this one. But just this once.
