This is Gertrude McCluck here, and this is my account on how the Mystery of the Missing Chickens happened...

"Do I have to?" I asked.

"You are going to the farm and that's final," said Ann, my owner.

"I hate the farm!" I exclaimed.

"You need other chickens!" said Ann.

I sighed and said, "Okay," feeling deflated.

Saturday morning Ann's daddy drove us to the farm. I put a smile on my face for Ann. "I can't come back to the farm until next Saturday because I have 4-H tomorrow and school the rest of the week." Ann called all of this through the window as the car left.

I made my way to the chicken coop, found a nest box, and attempted to nap.

"Hey New Girl!" rang out across the coop. I assumed I was the new girl, so I looked up. "What?" I asked.

"Hey, you aren't a replacement for someone, are you?" asked a strange chicken.

"Nope," I answered.

"Whew! It's okay, everyone! She's not a replacement." All the noise resumed.

"Why? What replacement? I asked.

"Chickens disappear during the night without even a feather!" she exclaimed. "By the way, the name's Chris. What's yours?"

"Gertrude McCluck," I answered.

"Do you know any good detectives? We need one," said Chris.

I smiled a chicken smile. "I am a detective, " I announced.

"Did you girls hear that? Three cheers for Detective McCluck! Hip, hip, cluck! Hip, hip, cluck! Hip, hip, cluck!"

"I will definitely help you. I love a good mystery!" I exclaimed.

"First," said a chicken, "we must get acquainted. My name is Marie, she is Marionette. The others are Marion, Marmalduke, Marjorie, Marquette, Caramel, Marma and Bob."

I looked at the chickens and said, "We will rest tonight, but tomorrow, we set a trap!"

The next morning, the chickens were still snoring when I got up. I set the trap and waited. One by one they stirred. "What's the plan, Gertrude? They all chorused.

I said, "I need two volunteers for standing guard." Chris and Bob volunteered.

That night they stood guard. They were just getting bored when they were whisked away with paws covering their beaks. As two shadowy figures ran away, the lawn was lit up with bright spotlights. A fine mesh net was tossed over them.

I said, "I knew it was foxes! I set the trap while you were catching up on your beauty sleep." There were clucks of laughter at this. Some chickens preened themselves vainly.

"But before that goes to your heads, I didn't tell you I needed bait instead of guards." There were shrieks at that.

"Sorry, that was harsh, I was kidding." I giggled. Other chickens considered this, then snickered and finally laughter.

The other days went smoothly and normally the entire week. Much to my dismay, Saturday came too quickly. We chickens hugged and promised to visit.

"Bye," I called out of the window as I drove away with my owner.