Gertrude McCluck was a very mean and ugly chicken because she bothered everyone on the farm. She took baths in the dog's water bowl as if it was her bathtub. She would sleep on the horse's hay and not let him eat. Foolishly Gertrude also pecked at the cows and caused stampedes. Sometimes she even laid her eggs in the tractor seat where the farmer would sit. At all this Gertrude would cackle and laugh all night, which meant no one could sleep.

One day Gertrude McCluck noticed that she had no friends because no one would play with her. Except for the pig, nobody liked her. Suddenly an idea went off in Gertrude's head like a light bulb. She would ask the pig, who was liked by everyone, why she had no friends. Although she felt embarrassed, Gertrude scampered to the stinky, muddy pig pen to get advice.

Thoughtfully, the pig responded that Gertrude had no friends because she was mean, selfish, and bothersome since she did not let some of the other animals eat or sleep. The pig continued by telling her that if she wanted friends, she should go say sorry, ask forgiveness, and be friendly.

So Gertrude hurried to ask each one for forgiveness. She told them she would not be selfish or sleep on the horse's hay or lay eggs in the tractor. From now on, she would nap and lay eggs in her own bed. She promised not to peck at the cows or take baths in the dog's water bowl.

Soon Gertrude McCluck, who changed and became kind and giving, was now a beautiful chicken and the other animals soon became her friends.