Today is a special day for yours truly, Gertrude McCluck. Today, three years ago, I was born right here in this very coop. So you can probably guess what I'm so excited about: my birthday! Let's hope that everyone else remembers my special day!

Look! Here comes my best friend, Henriettta, the Barred Rock babe.

"Why, hello Henrietta! What brings you over to this part of the coop on this wonderful day?" I asked joyfully.

"McCluck! I really need your help. I have a case for you to solve," Henrietta looked into my eyes with fear.

"Oh man, just what I need, a mystery to solve on my birthday. Can't I ever get a break?" I thought to myself as Henrietta explained.

"Last night, Hayley the Rhode Island Red, was taken out of the coop and now she hasn't returned. I'm worried sick about her!"

"Calm down right now," I replied, "did you see who took her and which way they went?" I took out my trusty spyglass and notepad and began to write down the details.

"Well, I'm not sure, but I think I saw the farmer take her and walk over that way," Henrietta pointed towards the Langshan chicken pen. "Do you think she was put in with them?"

"I don't know, I guess I will have to check it out. Thanks for the information. Oh, and one last question, did anyone else witness the crime?"

"No, everyone else was asleep at the time."

"Thanks for your help, Henrietta. It's always a joy to see you!" I sighed as Henrietta walked back to her nest.

I glanced over at the Langshan coop. I decided that I should pop over there and take a look around. Besides, I didn't have much else to do. I scoured the ground looking for tracks. I knew it had been raining last night because I could hear the drops on the roof of the coop. The strange thing was, I couldn't find any tracks. If anyone had come and taken Hayley they sure did a good job of covering their tracks.

One thing that bothered me was that just Henrietta saw the kidnapping. What if it was her that...No! I can't jump to conclusions right away!

As I entered the Langshan coop, I noticed something instantly. Everyone was sitting like normal laying their eggs. This is what puzzled me. When a new chicken is brought into a coop, it is never this quiet. Usually everyone is wild trying to find out who the newcomer is. I knew that this was not where Hayley was.

Puzzled, I walked back to my own coop and noticed something even stranger. Wait a minute, where is everybody? Why is it so quiet?

"Surprise! Happy Birthday Gertrude McCluck!" All my friends jumped out, including Hayley, and gave me a big hug.

"We set up a false mystery so that we would have time to set up your party!" Henrietta giggled, "Happy birthday, best friend!"