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The Missing Animal

By Jacob Carolson, Arizona

Gertrude saw a duck fly away from the farm. Then the chickens went to the pen to talk about it. The chickens went to the porch to see Skittles. Then Skittles was watching the animals.

The chickens then were on an adventure. They saw Julia come out to pet Skittles. Skittles said it was time to sleep. Skittles woke up and saw a bird flying above his head.

The duck went in the barn to his nest. The chickens searched a long time for the duck. They went in the barn and the nest was there. The duck was there too.

Christmas Adventures

By Cheyenne Clouatre, Arizona

Once upon a time, there was Wormmy and Rose. Wormmy and Roose were good pals. Wormmy was a horse and Roose was a rooster. There was Skittles the dog and Gertrude McCluck, of course was the chicken.

Then, Wormmy and Roose got lost in a snow storm. They found shelter in a nearby cave. They saw the coyotes and they were mean. Roose and Wormmy threw rocks at the coyotes and interrupted them.

After Rose and Wormy got in a snow storm, they ran through it and then they ran into Gertrude and Skittles. Wormmy, Roose, Skittles, and Gertrude walked until they found Gerney Acres Farms. They were happy to be home.

Taitum's Adventure

By Taitum Connolly, Oklahoma

Oh look! The Von Poofyheads have arrived.

One day as I made my way across the barnyard, I noticed that the other hens were all a flutter about something. All the girls were cackling. Wishbone, the Barred Rock rooster, was squawking for everyone to get back in the coop. There was a strange creature lurking outside the fence. He was walking back and forth searching for a way in. Nugget came running up to me yelling "Danger, danger, Gertrude come on!" We scurried off to the safety of the coop.

Moments later we could hear Taitum, the farmer's boy, hollering "Here Charlie, here Charlie, come here boy." As he approached the chicken yard, we heard him say, "Come on Charlie, let's go see if the girls have laid any eggs this morning." We watched carefully as Taitum and this furry, white creature approached the coop. As Taitum opened the door to the coop, he said to the creature, "Charlie, you stay here". I told the flock to hunch down in the nests or to hold tight to the roosts. While Taitum gathered what eggs were in the nests, the creature scratched at the door causing the ruffling of many feathers. Taitum left the coop with the creature following close behind.

Just as I was about to give the "all clear", the scratching began again. Henrietta and Esmerelda were so scared they laid eggs that immediately fell to the coop floor. I reassured everyone that we were safe inside and to keep quiet. Seconds later the door swung open and Taitum was back. But, this time the furry creature was right behind him. No amount of reassurance could calm the flock. Wings were flapping and feathers were flying. The furry creature was running around chasing Sophie, Tess and Little Red. Taitum grabbed up the creature and said, "Come on boy, I don't think you are wanted here".

After a restless night, I tried reassuring the flock that I would get to the bottom of this. Romeo, Hilda and I patrolled the chicken yard for signs of the creature. It wasn't long before he was back running up and down along the fence. After a bit, he just stopped and lay there watching us. He laid there for the next three days. This caused the whole flock to go off feed. I knew if I couldn't get this problem solved, there would be no eggs laid.

The next time Taitum came to collect eggs, the creature came with him. Once again he began running after Sophie, who is a beautiful white Frizzle chicken.
Scared, Sophie stopped and buried her head under her wing. The creature stopped and just lay beside her. Then he began to lick her feathers and finally laid his head on her back. Sophie was afraid to move, but I soon deducted that this creature, Charlie, was infatuated with Sophie. He didn't want to hurt her. Everyday Charlie, who is a dog, would come with Taitum to gather the eggs just to be close to Sophie.

Monster Muck

By Tanner Crawford, Arizona

Hi my name is Gertrude and I discovered a mystery with my friends. My mystery today is messy. One night I was having a small fire by the pond with chickens. We heard an uw uw uw down by the water. The chickens went wild and they were acting crazy! They were so scared they began to run up a tree. I ran and ran and went to the chicken coop. When I got there I was tired because I was running from the noise down by the pond.

I talked to everybody quickly. I ran to Hermes and told him about the monster muck noise. I ran over to Babs and told her about the monster too. Next I ran to Skittles and told him about what we all heard.

The chickens went back to the pond to get the mystery wrapped up. They scurried and scurried to the pond. They heard the noise and it was very close. It all turned out to be nothing. They figured out the sound. It was a person who was making a loud noise and had fallen in the mud near the pond.

Mysterious Eggs

By Brooke Davidson, Wisconsin

It was a beautiful day in early April and Gertrude McCluck was very excided that it was. Gertrude was being curious, as always, and happened to find some eggs that she had never seen before. ''I found them under some hay in the poultry barn and they were hidden so well that it looked like they were never there.'' Gertrude said to Penny.' 'Wow, how did you find them?'' said Penny. ‘' Well I was playing hide and seek with Turk the young Turken rooster and I decided to look in the poultry barn first. Then I went over by the corner and saw that the ground looked light and fluffy so I decided to rest for a while. When I got closer I began to sit down, but I felt something hard underneath me, so I removed the light fluffy hay and saw some eggs!'' exclaimed Gertrude. ‘'What do I do?'' Gertrude said aloud. "You should probably go and ask all the mother's if they hid their eggs under some hay in the poultry barn.'' said Penny. ‘'Alright," agreed Gertrude, "but who would do such a thing?'' I don't know," said Penny, "so let's go and find out.''

Gertrude and Penny asked every hen they saw if the eggs were theirs but every time they asked they got the same reply from the mothers, ‘'No those aren't my eggs'' and then the mothers showed them their chicks or young eggs. After they were sure that they had asked every hen, they sat down for a while to think about their mystery. ‘'I've got it!'' yelled Penny. ‘'If the eggs don't belong to a chicken, they must belong to a different kind of poultry like a turkey, a duck, or some other kind of water foul but which one?''

Answer: Geese and some other water foul bury their eggs in hay or loose dirt to protect them from any predator that might want to harm them. These were African geese eggs.

The Mystery of the Missing Bonnet

By Elisa Donley, Kansas

Elisa Donley holds Rietta, one of her chickens.

I was making breakfast when I heard Henrietta stretch and yawn. I looked over and saw her reach for her bonnet.

"Oh, no! My bonnet is missing! Whatever shall I do?" I heard her let out a big squawk.

I ran over to her and said, "Henrietta, what's wrong?"

"My bonnet is missing!" she answered.

Without touching our food, we left to go find a clue.

We were waddling along when we found a print that looked like a dog's. I turned to Henrietta and said, "Bingo! Belle, the farmdog!"

"Great idea! Let's go see if Belle has my bonnet," she said.

"Let's take the shortcut to her doghouse," I suggested.

"Sure!" Henrietta said.

We got to Belle's doghouse quickly and knocked on her door. She opened the door and I asked, "Do you have Henrietta's bonnet?"

Belle said, "Why, no! I don't."

Feeling disappointed, we headed back home. When we got home, we sat in our nests discussing the case.

"I really thought it was Belle, "I said, "I wonder what else could have made those prints?"

As we were talking, I heard thumping coming up our steps, which meant Louise, the farmgirl, was coming to gather eggs. Henrietta and I hopped out of our nests to get out of the way. I walked by Louise and as I passed her feet I gasped!

"Oh! Henrietta! I know what made the prints. It's Louise!"

"What?" Henrietta had a very confused look on her face, "But, how do you know?"

"Look up!" I told her.

Henrietta looked up. "There it is! I'm so happy to have found my bonnet!"

At that moment, Louise took the bonnet off of her doll and handed it to Henrietta with a smile, "Here's your bonnet back, pretty chicken," she said in a sweet voice.

We were so happy the mystery was solved, but Henrietta still had one question.

"Gertrude, how did you know it was Louise who made those prints?"

"Well, when Louise came into the coop, I noticed she was walking on her tip toes without any shoes. That makes a print similar to a dog's," I answered.

After that, things went well, until the next mystery, anyway...

The Case of the Talking Tree

By Savanna Dudas, Arizona

Hello! I'm Gertrude McCluck, the C.I.C. (Chicken in Charge) here on Gerney Acres Farm. Today is rainy and cloudy which is a sign something peculiar might happen, and I was right. This morning I was going on a walk due to the nice weather, and I found Julia on a ladder looking into the apple tree. Can you believe it? I though ladders weren't allowed on farms so I went off to investigate.

As I got closer to the apple tree, I heard voices, very whiny voices chanting, "Food! Food! Give me food." So I took a small step forward. All of a sudden, Julia started chasing me away shouting, "Go away!" over and over so I decided to go away and come back later.

After my unpleasant experience, I went to see my trusty friend Skittles to see if he saw anything strange. When I got to the house, Skittles was sleeping so I pecked him once on the nose to wake him. Startled, Skittles asked why I was here. I told him about the talking tree, and he said he had been sleeping so he didn'dt see anything. Disappointed, I went to find Hermes the horse.

Luckily, I found Hermes in his stable not sleeping. I asked him if he'd been near the apple tree lately, and he said yes. He said earlier in the pasture he wanted apples so he headed over. He also said these tiny balls of blue fluff with eyes started chattering so after grabbing an apple, he left. Thanking him, I went to the barn to think it over.

As I was walking to the barn, two blue birds flew by, and I overheard them talking about new babies. Wait, New Babies!? I think I have it all figured out. The talking tree was actually baby blue jays in a nest on the apple tree! As I rejoiced over my victory of solving the case, I ran off to tell my friends, Hermes and Skittles.

Who is Stuck in the Rocket?

By Jeremiah Fowler, Arizona

Skittles is a girl dog and her job is to help the Chicken In Charge (C.I.C.). Gertrude McCluck is the C.I.C. She has brown hair and a yellow beak. Hermes is a horse and he eats grass. He also talks a lot and is a blabber mouth. All of the chickens were super quiet because the C.I.C. told them to be.

The C.I.C. built a rocket with the help of Skittles and Hermes. When Rose was standing in the middle of the rocket, the C.I.C. closed the door with Rose in it. The C.I.C. said to the chickens, "find Rose, all of you!"

Gertrude McCluck heard screaming for help. Then suddenly, Gertrude McCluck went by the rocket and it got louder. "Help, help, help, came a suspicious sound! Just then, Gertrude McCluck looked around and saw a crowbar and a wrench and loosened two bolts to crack open the door. Then Rose was free! All of the chickens were throwing eggs at each other. They had a blast!

Park Adventure

By Isaiah Garcia, Arizona

This is about when Gertrude went to the park. She went in the car. Then Gertrude asked herself what is this thing I am in. She didn't know what a car was like. Finally the family arrived at the park.

They were playing on the playground. Gertrude went down the slide. Then she was put on the swings. Next she went on the merry go round.

Finally they got back to the farm. She told the other animals that she went on a slippery mountain. Next she told them she was flying like superman really high. Then she said she was on a flying saucer going in circles. She had a fun adventure with Julia.

The Case of The Missing Tractor

By Madelyn Green, Arizona

In the morning Gertrude noticed one of the tractors was missing. Gertrude Knew without the tractor there will be no plowing. Gertrude gets ready for her morning. Gertrude looks for the other animals.. In the lunch time Gertrude talks to Hermes. Hermes said that the farmer entered the tractor in the truck. The farmer drove down the hill. He stopped the truck somewhere strange.

Gertrude jumped in the pail Julia is carrying down the hill. Gertrude found the tractor. It was getting washed.

Life on a Farm

By Jess Grewell, Montana

Jess Grewell's rooster, Ernie Below: Doc & Pacho are Runner ducks.

Dear Gertrude, C.I.C.,

My name is Jess Grewell. I live in Silesia, Montana with 7 pigs, 3 dogs, 3 cats and 40 chickens. I prayed to the Lord one night to give me a chicken this hatching season, a rooster. I knew he had answered my prayers when a little chick started following me everyday when I did chores.

Once he got bigger he started attacking me on a regular basis. This is how he got his name, Ernie. This was the name of a golden sexlink rooster in a book called Harris and Me, and the rooster kept attacking the both of them, just like Ernie did to me.

Eventually I put him in his place, showing him that I was in charge. Ever since then Ernie chased squirrels, rabbits, and basically anything smaller than him including other roosters. He drinks Coca-Cola (he can tell the difference between Coca-Cola and everything else) and he follows me whenever I have a bottle of it in my coat pocket.

He understands you too, for example one day I told him I was going on a cross-country meet and then he just started running all around our yard and then walked up to me breathing hard, then I said "Yeah something like that."

Then there's Pacho and Doc, my two Runner ducks. How did they come to the farm? Well it started the day before Easter when my Grandma Kathy asked me if I wanted some ducks for Easter and I replied with a yes. We went to go get them figuring on getting Mallards since I had thought all ducks could fly. When I got there I found out that Runner ducks couldn't fly so I got them a black one I named Doc and a white one I named Pacho. (Pacho is Spanish for duck.)

In the two weeks I had them in my garage they were 5x bigger than when I first got them, so I built them a pen. They stayed in there for a few weeks but when I saw them swimming in their water, it hit me, I had completely forgot that ducks could swim. So the next day I got them a rubber pool that popped because we lived on a farm. Then I got them a plastic pool that worked.

Then the pigs got out and tore up their pen and then they found fun in a puddle outside of their pen ever since. I haven't bothered to put them back in because they stick around. I also sent you photos of these famous animals.

Sincerely,

Jess Grewell

Buzzy Missing in the Forest

By Tyler Harris, Arizona

Gertrude McCluck, the chicken, was minding her own business talking to her friends. Skittles, the dog, was playing with the birds. Buzzy, the bee, was getting his pollen from the flowers in the forest.

Skittles heard a scream in the forest from someone. Buzzy was missing and it was raining in the forest. Buzzy's wings got a little wet and a big drop came down and hit Buzzy on his wing causing him to fall to the ground.

A big black bee named Buzzer picked Buzzy up and took him to a pyramid. He put him behind bars until he woke up. When Skittles went to tell Gertrude that Buzzy was missing, they ran to the pyramid. When they got to the pyramid, they saw a lot of doors. They had to find the key to the door. It was hard but they got the key. Now they had to find the door. The key was the same as the door on the end. They got in and tried to get Buzzy. Buzzer saw Gertrude and Skittles. Buzzer gave Buzzy to them and they lived happily every after.

Gertrude McCluck and the Thieves

By Anna Heetderks, Virginia

Anna Heetderks with her bantam Barred Rock, Jewel.

I was having a sleepover with Lucy the buff Plymouth Rock hen. My owner was on vacation and I was staying at the farm where she lived. Tonight we were on the perch and just as I was starting to fall asleep Lucy poked me. "What's the matter?" I asked. Lucy said, "Gertrude, something has been worrying me. I forgot to tell you earlier. There's been someone around who's been stealing our eggs and the ones he doesn't steal, he breaks. I went on guard to see if I could catch him last night. I stayed wide awake but I didn't see anyone! My owner thinks I'm doing it and she does not see any use for hens who do not lay, or when they do, break the eggs. I'm really worried."

"I've got to investigate first," I said. I grabbed my trusty spyglass and went to the nest box. There was nothing there, but I looked around for a few minutes. Then I said, "Lucy, I think I know who the thieves are." I whispered my plan to her. Then we went out and hid behind some bushes. Lucy was starting to fall asleep when I poked her. "Lucy! They're coming!" I said. There were some scufflings and then three rats came out into the moonlight and started arguing. "Ta-da! We've got them," I whispered. "I'm glad we got them," said Lucy, "but how did they get in?" "Look," I said, "there's a hole in the ground. They went under the wall and made a hole in the bottom of your nest box. Then they covered it with straw so nobody can see it."

"It's nice to have the information, but how can we catch them?" asked Lucy. "I've got it!" I said. I told Lucy, then we ran out from behind the bush and grabbed the rats. We made as much noise as we could. Finally Lucy's owner came out. "Rats!" she exclaimed. "So you're the ones who have been stealing our eggs! I guess I'd better set a trap tonight." Just then the cock crowed. "Well," said Lucy, "what a start to our sleepover this has been!"

The Case of the Kind Egg Thief

By Preston Howe, Pennsylvania

Preston & Mrs. McCurdy

"Finally!" Gertrude McCluck said after laying her daily egg. "Now I need to get my energy back by getting some feed. "Babs, would you join me in some breakfast?"

"Yes, please", Babs replied softly. As they were eating their feed, a fox was hiding in the weeds. When they finished, Gertrude could see the fox. They ran away.

"That was a close one!" Babs said tired from all the running.

"See you later Babs, I need to get ready for the picnic I'm having." Gertrude clucked happily.

"Am I invited?" Babs hollered down the road.

"I guess anyone is invited" Gertrude shouted back as she was walking home.

She went home and started getting ready for the picnic, but then she saw that her eggs were missing! So she went out to look for them. She asked many other poultry like, bantams, leghorns and geese but they didn't know where they were. Then she saw the fox and Gertrude asked the cunning little fox, "Do you know where my eggs are?"

The fox answered, "Yes, I do. A wolf was looking for some pigs but he couldn't find any so he wanted to taunt something else. He spotted those eggs and took them."

Gertrude was stumped. Why would a wolf want her eggs? She was walking through neighborhoods when she spotted through a window her eggs on a table in the house. She went into that house. It was a small house, about the size of hers. A wolf came out of the bedroom. "What are you doing here?" the wolf said in a deep, raspy voice.

"I'm getting my eggs back," Gertrude tried to explain. Babs heard the arguing and went into the house. She entered but was scared. She knew the wolf's strength and she figured she might end up a goner if she didn't have the perfect wording.

Babs asked the wolf, "May I please have the eggs?" She was doubtful of the answer that she was about to receive. The wolf was glad someone finally treated him with respect and didn't just run away screaming.

The wolf walked over to the table and picked up the basket of eggs. Gertrude expected fresh brown eggs to be thrown in her direction. But instead, the wolf kindly handed her the basket.

"Thank you for my eggs!" exclaimed Gertrude with joy. She went home to get ready for the picnic. She brought cricket stew and spinach bites. Many breeds showed up. There were Ameraucana, Rhode Islands, White Faced Black Spanish and Yokohamas. They played many games like Pin the Tail on the Fox, Duck Duck Chicken and Musical Perches.

"All right folks, it's getting dark out and I think it's time to head back to our farms."

A successful picnic ends with all happy hens returning to their roosts.

A Big Mystery

By Vincent Ivy, Arizona

Gertrude helps search for stuff and she is a chicken. Redwonder is a fox who helps fight bad guys. Moo is a sharp horned cow. Bolt is a king cobra. Lightning is a bald eagle. They were all having fun at Gerney Acres.

A lion escaped from the zoo, came to Gerney Acres and smelled the chickens. Moo was at the farm scared of the lion. When Moo heard a stick crack, she said, "who could that be?" She saw a lion.

Gertrude McCluck laid a lot of eggs and a baby check hatched. The lion fell down and fainted. He woke up and saw one more baby chick and everyone was safe. They all lived happily ever after, well sort of. The End (made you look!)

The Case of The Stolen Eggs

By Sloane Jenkins, Arizona

Early in the morning Gertrude heard the hens clucking away. The hens are mad because their
eggs are gone!

Gertrude is on the case again. She's the C. I. C. ( Chicken In Charge). Hermes helps. He found
feathers. Skittles saw boot prints. Ester saw eggs dropped on the floor.

Gertrude looks in the window. She saw empty egg shells. Gertrude heard a sizzling noise.

Gertrude sees a frying pan. She smells eggs. She saw Julia was eating breakfast.

Gertrude and Raccoon

By Tatiana Z.Kent, Rhode Island

Tatiana Kent and friend

Gertrude and Wolf were best friends. Wolf was a streak of grey darting along the forest
floor. Gertrude was a clucking red flash on Wolf's back. A year ago Wolf had found his friend as
an abandoned egg. He raised the chicken, and they lived in the wild forest.

One day as Gertrude and Wolf pounded along the pathway, they saw a black face with two shiny and glinting eyes. Gertrude cackled loudly, and Wolf stopped running. A raccoon stepped out of the shadows, and said "Do you think I could stay with you for a while? Food has been scarce."

Food had indeed been scarce, so Gertrude took pity on him and welcomed Raccoon into their pack. Wolf caught Raccoon eyeing Gertrude quite often. But when he warned her, she only sang (chickens laugh by singing).

One day Raccoon whispered to Gertrude, "You know, wolves eat chickens. You should leave Wolf and come with me."

Gertrude said, "I cannot leave Wolf. I am his pack, and he is my protector. He would never eat me." But then Gertrude saw Wolf's teeth - and went with Raccoon. Raccoon led Gertrude to the desert, where he suddenly jumped on her!
What Raccoon didn't know was that Gertrude was a master of tae kwon do, and so Raccoon went away bruised and hungry. Gertrude began the long journey home.

The Mystery of the Missing C.I.C.

By Ashlynn Kooima, Arizona

That morning Julia was looking for the C.I.C. She looked in the barn and behind the basket. Julia looked in the front yard. She looked behind the flowers. She couldn't find Gertrude.

Julia is feeling worried. She saw Gertrudes footsteps going into the barn. She can't see Gertrude in the barn.

The next morning she looked in the barn. Suddenly she heard a noise. She looked under the hay. Julia sees chicks and Gertrude. There were new chicks and Gertrude was a Mommy!

The Strange Horse

By Angie Koury, Arizona

Hello my name is Gertrude McCluck. Why don't I just walk around to see what's going on. I saw Hermes the horse lying on the ground. "Hi Hermes" said Gertrude. "Hi Gertrude" said Hermes. "What's the matter?" asked Gertrude? " My wife, Horselina, is having a baby and it hurts her" said Hermes. " OH NO! I hear the signal. My Horselina's baby is coming. Sorry can't chat anymore I have to go." Gertrude followed behind.

The baby was born and rolling around a making ba ba ee hee noises. She was acting so strange. I better spread the news thought Gertrude. I'll go to see Skittles to see what he has to say. "Hi, Skittles, have you seen anything strange today?" asked Gertrude. "No, the only thing that was strange was that I was chasing a squirrel but I usually chase a bunny." "No Skittles, I meant at Hermes place." "Nope, nothing at Hermes" said Skittles. "Okay bye Skittles" said Gertrude.

Then I went to back to Hermes and Hermes started to talk and talk and talk. That must be why the baby was making strange noises. It had to be because she was trying to talk just like her father.

Gertrude's Legacy

By Emily Kruse, Oregon

It was a dark and spooky October night. The blackness was thicker than all of the feathers on a Black Jersey Giant. Trees rustled in the breeze, as if telling secrets that would never be revealed. And worst, but the most illuminating of all was the moon. It shone supernaturally in the night sky, silhouetting all the night creatures that flew above the chickens' heads.

"Okay! Is everyone in the coop for tonight? Time to take our nightly roll call! Freckles, Babs, Stephanie, Margaret, Sunshine, Rosemary and Henrietta," Gertrude read aloud.

Six chickens responded instead of seven. "Where's Henrietta?" This question echoed around the coop until Gertrude made a decision.

"We must help our friend! Would you want help if you were lost?" Gertrude questioned.

"Yes!" was the hurried reply.

After everyone was out and looking, Gertrude stepped out of the coop. A chill ran up her spine. She tried to shake it off, but she couldn't. Something was watching her. Shortly after, she heard a triumphant yell.

"I found her!" Freckles the Rooster exclaimed. Everyone was there in a flash. "Oops! Sorry! It isn't Henrietta, but it is a rock!" Freckles admitted sheepishly. At that moment, Gertrude heard rustling in a nearby tree. She seemed to have been the only one that had heard it; the others had gone back to looking. Gertrude silently swallowed her fears and went over to the tree. She peered into the tree and saw...two piercing, giant, yellow eyes staring back at her! Then Gertrude did what any chicken would do: she sprinted! As fast, as hard, and as long as she could. At last, Gertrude stopped to rest on a log. She was panting very hard!

"Pssst!" Gertrude jumped.

"W-what w-was that?" she said in a scared voice.

"It's me, Henrietta! Come on back behind this log in the bushes so "It" doesn't get you."

"W-what is "It"?" Gertrude asked. Henrietta turned pale. Gertrude could tell that she was practically scared out of her socks!

"W-well it has small black eyes, and huge ears. I do know that it can fly, because it swooped down over me and tried to bite me." Henrietta recalled.

"You silly! It was a bat! They are actually small creatures-and good ones too! For instance, they can OW! OW! Stop biting me, you mosquito!" Gertrude yelped. Both hens watched in amazement as a bat flew down within inches of Gertrude and plucked the bothersome mosquito right out of the air!

"I guess bats are good after all." Henrietta admitted. "In fact, they are super cool!"

On that dark and spooky October night, both hens walked on a rugged path home. This path was very special. It was a path lit by friendship, bravery, and hearts of those two hens on that fateful night.

Gertrude's Vacation Disaster

By Haley Kruse, Oregon

Haley and her Buff Seabright rooster, Rhodey

"Well, it's time for my vacation. I'm off to Hawaii" , said Gertrude one day. "Bon Voyage" yelled the hens and roosters.

Three days passed and Gertrude thought I should already be to Hawaii by now. She asked the ship's captain "when are we going to get to Hawaii?"

The captain replied, "We are not going to Hawaii. We are going to Australia."

"Australia?" said Gertrude. "Well, I guess Australia will do."

Three days later, Gertrude was in bed and felt a sudden crash. She rolled out of bed and landed on the floor.

"What was that?!" Gertrude wondered. Then she just about jumped eight feet high. "What was that?!" Gertrude yelled again.

The captain came running into her cabin. She asked the captain "What is happening?"

The captain yelled "Get off the ship and swim for your life!" "We're shipwrecked on an island". Then the captain ran out of the cabin. The captain peeked back into Gertrude's cabin and said "Oh, one more thing. We are surrounded by sharks!!", the captain yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Oh my!", Gertrude said. This is my biggest case yet.

Just then the captain said "Well aren't you going to scream and run for your life?"

"No", Getrude replied. "This I have to solve"

"Are you a detective?" the captain asked.

"Yes, yes, I am." Gertrude said.

"Well, don't just stand there. Do something!!", the captain yelled.

"I guess I am the only hope around here", said Gertrude as the captain left screaming at the other passengers.

Getrude was soon interrupted by screams for help outside her door.

"Well, time to solve this case", said Gertrude.

Gertrude walked outside. Not far away she could make out a figure that looked like an island. There was only one lifeboat that was useable. Getrude grabbed the controls for that lifeboat.

"Everyone into the lifeboat and we will see if we can find some help", she yelled.

"I can't swim", yelled a passenger. "Me neither", yelled another.

"Well aren't you going to solve this case?", asked the captain.

"Yes", replied Gertrude. "That is what I am doing."

Then one of the other passengers replied "Hey these sharks are really submarines."

Gertrude examined the sharks. "Well," Gertrude said. "let's row to this other island and see if we can shed some light to this matter."

"Man the lifeboat and let's get going!", said the captain.

So Gertrude and the other passengers rowed to the other island. Amazingly they found another ship that was able to take them back home. The submarines were part of a secret mission that was protecting the island and its ship.

Once back among the other chickens, Gertrude said "vacations aren't all they're pecked up to be!"

Gertrude's Chick Hatching Adventure

Shelby March, Nebraska

Shelby March

On an early summer day, an 8-year-old girl named Shelby went out to the hen house to check on her pet chicken Gertrude and her six eggs she was sitting on. As Shelby went into the hen house; she was surprised to see five of the eggs had hatched.

Gertrude was a very proud mother; she decided to show off her young bunch. She called to them in song, "Cluck Cluck get in single file." The chicks were all different colors and so cute! Shelby was so excitedbut what about the sixth egg she wondered?

When would it hatch? Just then, Shelby heard a "Crick Krack!" sound. To Shelby, that sound was exciting. But to the new chicks, it startled them. Fluff, fluff, the white leghorn chick said. "Peep, Peep, I'm scared!'' Shelby said it was only the egg hatching. Shelby always used a kind and gentle voice when talking to her chickens. She picked up Fluff Fluff and turned around to see a soggy wet chick.

Shelby could clearly see that this chick was different than the others. Could it possibly be a peacock? She named the baby chick Handsome. Shelby kept part of the shell in her memory box. I bet you are wondering how Gertrude hatched a peacock?

Well, here is how. The farm was shared by the Royals, a peacock family. Penny Pea Hen is Gertrude's friend. They like to share a wicker laundry basket where they lay their eggs. Of all the chicks, Penny seemed to have a special bond with Handsome. Once Handsome was old enough to leave the coop to see the rest of the farm, he met Shelby by the blackberry bush. Shelby always brought a wicker basket full of berries.

Berries were his favorite food and Handsome grew into a lovely peacock. Penny figured out that he was her son! Handsome is so lucky to have two mothers that love him so much and to have so many brothers and sisters.

As the years went by, Handsome was looking through Shelby's memory box and found the shell and the Cluck Cluck Gazette Newspaper. The headline read "The Scoop In the Coop." Local chicken Gertrude McCluck's new brood includes Handsome, the Peacock Chick.

Gertrude, Penny and Handsome and all the chicks live happily ever after A=s one big happy family!

The Ghost Case

By Marcus McWilliams, Arizona

Hello my name is Gertrude McCluck and I am the Chicken in Charge right now. I am going to the chicken pen where Rose is. Wait a minute, I see Rose with Babs, I better listen to what they're talking about. I listened to what rose said last night. I uh saw a well it was a g-g-ghost squawk! "G-g ghost," said Babs. "I also heard he can never sleep with ghost around." I wonder what kind of ghost. Well, I better investigate tonight and try to find out what kind of ghost they're talking about.

I am ready and it is really windy squawk! I see th - the door opening. Could it be the ghost Rose and Bab where talking about? What is it?

The next morning I went to Hermes who was also a helpful detective. "Hi Hermes" said Gertrude. "Did you find anything yet Gertrude?" said Hermes. Yes, I told him. "I watched a ghost movie," said Hermes. "Never mind Hermes, I am going to go see Skittles."

"Hey Skittles did you see anything last night?" asked Gertrude. "Nope, just Ester bunny running around" said Skitttles. " I'm going again to the farm house, bye." Wait, I hear the noise, which sounded just like the noise I heard last night.

Later that night Gertrude said, "I can hardly see because it is so cloudy ahahah! I think I see the ghost it looks strange and it is coming out of the farm house. It looks like it is wearing a glowing white dress and now it is going into the house.

The next morning I saw Julia in the pretty dress that the ghost was wearing. Oh, now I get it, it was just her wearing it.

Now I can go tell Rose that it was just Julia in a dress. "Hey Rose, I have something to tell you." "Ok Gertrude" said Rose. The ghost was just Julia wearing a dress. "Oh thank goodness. I am so happy now. Thank you Gertrude." said Rose. "You're welcome Rose. Now I'm going to eat in my pen. That um yum is my um story of when I first became a detective.

Where Is Babs?

By Kara Miller, Pennsylvania

Kara Miller with Cornelius McGillicuddy

"Babs is gone," Rusty whispered to himself. Rusty checked off his list everyday to make sure that everyone was safe and sound, but that day Babs didn't come out. He checked in the coop, but Babs wasn't there either. He waddled as fast as he could, looking for Gertrude McCluck, the famous chicken detective known for solving mysteries for her fellow fowl. When Rusty found Gertrude, he cackled "Babs is gone!"

"What?" Gertrude clucked, startled.

"Babs is gone!"

"Okay, I'll call an emergency meeting at the coop."

"Good, I'll be there." said Rusty.

When Gertrude, Rusty, King, Pearl, Buffy, and Mrs. Mille Fleur were all sitting in the coop Gertrude got up and exclaimed, "Babs is gone!"

"How?" asked King.

"I'm not sure, but we have to have a search, Rusty, you check in the cornfield. King, you check in the barn. Pearl, you check in the nearby woods. Buffy, you check in the pasture. Mrs. Mille Fleur, you look around the farmhouse. And I'll check for clues in the chicken pen." Flapping their wings as they went, they all scurried to their destinations. Rusty only found corn, King found some black sunflower seeds, Pearl only found trees, Mrs. Mille Fleur found an empty wash tub but Buffy found fox tracks in the pasture and Gertrude found hawk feathers in the chicken yard! They all flapped back to the coop for another meeting.

Gertrude got up and said, "I found hawk feathers and Buffy found fox tracks. What else did you find?"
"I found corn," said Rusty.

"I found black sunflower seeds," said King.

"Okay, I think we have enough information."

"Wait!" cackled Mrs. Mille Fleur. "I have something to tell you!"

"What?" asked Gertrude.

"I found a washtub!"

"What you all have found seem to have a connection, but I have to think to be sure. Rattle-rattle-buzz-ding! I think Babs went to a show!"

Just then Babs came back in a show cage with a blue ribbon! "Congratulations Babs," they all clucked and cackled. "How did you leave without us noticing," they asked. "The farmers got me really early before you were awake," Babs answered. Rusty suggested, "Let's go into the coop and have a cake made from scratch to celebrate." So they strutted into the coop happily.

Mrs. Mc Cluck and The None Stop Mud Monster

By Eiven Mugo, Arizona

One night it was raining. The rain was so long and then it stopped. A monster started growing! The monster was very quiet.

Next day McCluck and the others were scared. They meet the monster in the muddy field. It had big eyes. It had never died. It had sharp claws.

The monster was really Julia with mud on. All the animals were gone. Mrs. Cluck wiped off the mud with the hose.

They lived happily ever after.

Gertrude Gets a Time Out

By Shelby Nutter, Georgia

Shelby Nutter

Gertrude McCluck was a very unusual chick. She would peck at all the other chicks in her flock.

Farmer Tanner said "Why are all my chicks being so LOUD?" He went into the chick coop and said "Oh, I see one of my chicks is being mean to all the other chicks." So Farmer Tanner said "I guess I will just separate you from the rest of the flock." He placed Gertrude in a "time out" coop. This made all the other chicks so happy, but it made Gertrude mad! She did not like being all alone, and she flew over the fence so she could get out and be with the other chickens.

And when Farmer Tanner put Gertrude back in "time out" she thought about what she had done and when she had been in there long enough Farmer Tanner put her back with the other chicks. She went to every chick and said "I am sorry I was so mean to you. I will be nice now." Soon all the chicks were running and playing out in the meadow chasing bugs and digging up worms for supper.

The Case of The Scorpion

By Makenzee Petter, Arizona

One day Julia found a scorpion on her sock. First, she screamed. Second, she was afraid. Third, the C.I.C. came to help Julia. Gertrude to the rescue!

First Gertrude looks. Second, she didn't see anything. Then she thinks Julia is lying. The C.I.C. pecks all around. She thinks she smells it, but she doesn't.

Suddenly she steps on something. It was a scorpion. She gobbled it up and Julia is safe. Julia says thank you.

Gertrude's Big Day

By Audrey Quinn, Washington

Audrey & Blue Steele

I am Gertrude McCluck, a ten-month old Cochin Banty. I am called "G" for short and have three other chickens in my flock. They are two hens, a Rhode Island Red named Penny and a Silky named Berryann. The third is a Rhode Island Red rooster called Larry. My flock lives in the Thimbleberry Family's garden and hen house, which is just the right size for four chickens.

One day I was running in the yard like I always do, being a good chicken. But then something terribly awful happened. Sadie Thimbleberry, the oldest daughter, came into the yard with four things: One was a cat carrier, two were big fancy shoeboxes for boots, and one was an ordinary box. Plus, she had an enormous roll of duct tape and her father's pocketknife. I was worried!

First Sadie stuck Penny and Berryann in the boot boxes, then Larry in the regular box. She put little holes in the boxes with her father's knife. Then she stuck me in the cat carrier and shut it tight. The Sadie got the duct tape out and started sticking it on all the boxes my friends were in. Then Sadie called her two younger sisters, Caley and Suzanne. Their father came, too. Now I was even more worried!

The father picked up Larry's box and Sadie's sisters pick up the two boot boxes. I tried to squawk secretly to my flock - "Larry, crow!" and to my hen mates, "Start squawking with me!" I did not want to go with the Thimbleberrys. We all started squawking loudly together as the family carried us out of the yard and up the steps. Then they put us down in our boxes and we stopped squawking. Then I heard Caley and Suzanne say, "What are we waiting for?" Their father explained that they were waiting for their mother to get off work to pick them up with the car. Now I was really worried and scared too.

Finally the mother drove up and said "Hop in kids, we're going to the Fair!" I did not know what she was talking about but it didn't sound good.

At the fair we sat in little cages; I didn't know why. After a long time, with little kids touching us and laughing at us, the Thimbleberrys came back. Sadie had cotton candy on her nose. There were five blue ribbons on Larry's cage. Penny and Berryann had thee. But I had six! Then we finally went back home, had dinner and fell fast asleep on our roosts.

The next day was totally normal.

Gertrude McCluck Learns How to Fly

By Caleb Ricci, Texas

Caleb Ricci & friend

Caleb was holding Gertrude McCluck the chicken. He was going to help her fly. Gertrude McCluck was black and brown on her body and had white, brown and black on her tail feathers. Gertrude was a big chicken and was beautiful. Caleb loved Gertrude McCluck the chicken.

Caleb showed Gertrude how to fly by flapping his own arms. Next, Caleb grabbed Gertrude, backed up and took off running with the chicken on his arm. Then Gertrude started flapping her wings and she took off flying and landed on the shed softly. Gertrude started eating and drinking the chicken food and water Caleb put out for her. Caleb carefully put it in different places so Gertrude would have to fly to it.

The next morning Caleb released Gertrude McCluck to the wild. Gertrude's favorite foods included grasshoppers, bugs, live grass, dead grass and most of all yummy worms. Caleb came to visit Gertrude after he released her, to bring her some food and water. Gertrude missed Caleb while in the wild but she found a crashed airplane. She looked inside and found a lot of blood. Next time Caleb came to visit, Gertrude took him to the airplane. Caleb cleaned and fixed the airplane and flew it with her, to his house. Caleb kept Gertrude at his house because he loved her very much.

The Super Chicken

By Trevor Ricci, Texas

Trevor Ricci with new chick.

Once upon a time, there was Trevor and his chickens. Trevor was watching them when all of a sudden; Trevor saw five coyotes come up and steal one egg each from the same nest. All that was left was one brown egg with fifty-two spots on it that were dark brown. Three days later, Trevor was watching his chickens and last chick egg started hatching. Trevor saw the feet come out first, then the wings popped out and she took off running around. She bounced off a little rock and finished breaking her egg. The baby chick was really pretty so Trevor named her Gertrude McCluck. Trevor went in the house and hid from Gertrude behind his chair to keep watch on her without her knowing.

Gertrude McCluck looked up at the sky and saw 200 eagles coming down really really fast. Gertrude flew up and a blue ring appeared around her and started spinning when all of a sudden, it turned into a shield in front of her. She slammed into the eagles and made them all fall down except for one which had special powers too. They battled each other and it took all of Gertrude's energy to destroy the evil eagle. Gertrude came falling down and fell on a trampoline bounced up really high and was able to return to her coop.

Trevor was so surprised to see he had a chicken with special powers. Trevor loved his chicken. It was one of the most amazing things in Trevor's life. Gertrude immediately started eating and drinking. Gertrude was eating chicken food and all of the grasshoppers around her. Gertrude loved the grasshoppers as that was one of her favorite foods. Bugs were also one of her favorites.

Gertrude was so happy she defeated the evil eagle and was able to save the other chickens and other eggs. Gertrude was surprised she learned a new special power while fighting the eagle. Gertrude continued to get really big and strong as she fought other bad evil wild animals.

Gertrude grew so much; Trevor released her into the wild. Three days later, Trevor came to visit Gertrude and bring her a giant cage with lots of toys and put and endless supply of food and water to keep her safe.

Strawberry's Four Duckling Chicks

By Joseph Sidor, Illinois

I went to visit my sister who lived on a farm in the beautiful countryside. My sister was telling me about her good friend Strawberry who was setting on some (rather large) eggs in a corner of the barn and she was telling me that the eggs should have hatched by now, but Strawberry wasn't certain when exactly the eggs should hatch.

After breakfast of a juicy tomato worm, we went to bring Strawberry her breakfast. We went to her corner but she wasn't there! We started calling her name and then searched the barn to no avail. Suddenly, Strawberry was at the door cackling for us (she had gone nuts).

"My chicks! They hatched and ran straight to the pond, and then floated away and when I tried to float after them I started to sink and I got all wet and almost died because I didn't have air to breath, and I am afraid my babies will die if they go down in to the water like I did. Oh please, come help me!" exclaimed Strawberry.

We ran as fast as we could to the pond. We soon arrived there to see four little ducks swimming on the other side of the water.

"We have to get them before they drown!" shrieked Strawberry.

"The chicks must have drowned already," Penny whispered loudly to me.

"They're right out there!" Strawberry was clucking, waving her wing at the ducklings as she raced around to the other side of the pond.

Penny and I stood there waiting for Strawberry to realize that her ducklings are made to swim. Soon Strawberry turned her head towards us and yelled, "Don't you realize my chicks are going to drown?"

We walked over to her and said softly, "Your babies are ducklings. That is why it took longer for your eggs to hatch." Though Strawberry was quite taken aback by this, she regained her mind quickly.

"Well," I said practically, "we do need to get the ducklings off the pond."

"How are we going to do that?" Strawberry asked.

"I know," Penny huffed, "M.R.S. Dill that old duck, she can swim!"

"If there is a duck on your farm then that is what we should do," I clucked.

So we set out to search the farm. "Penny, you search the human's coop," I instructed. "Strawberry, you search the corn field, and I will search the big monster that the humans drive. You all be back here in five minutes."

Five minutes later, three unfortunate hens were found back at the pond. Then I had an idea, "I know," I said "why don't we look in the tall grass around the pond?"

That was when we realized the ducklings were gone. "We must find the ducklings!" Strawberry squawked. So we searched the bank and sure enough, there in a bunch of weeds were M.R.S. Dill and four little ducklings!

Where Are Gertrude's Missing Eggs?

By Lori Anne Steele, Mississippi

Gertrude McCluck yawned as she walked in the chicken house. She was on night duty last night. She had eggs to sit on, but she knew it was her duty to watch the chicken pen at night time.

But when she got to her nest her eggs were gone. Gertrude was worried. She ran out of the chicken house. The other chickens crowded all around the chicken pen.

Suddenly a voice popped up. "Gertrude," it was Peanut, "what's wrong?"

Gertrude said, "My eggs are gone!" Peanut put on a worried face. "Oh" he said, "oh, dear. Well good luck finding them." Then Peanut walked away.

Gertrude heard another voice. "Are you my mommy?" Three chicks climbed out of the chicken pen and asked a dog. Then, Gertrude understood. Her eggs hatched last night! Now, Gertrude had to save them. She grabbed her chicks and pulled them back. Then the chicks asked, "Are you my mommy?" Gertrude smiled and said, "Yes I am".
Peanut walked by and asked, "Did you find your eggs?" Gertrude said, "I didn't find my eggs, but I've found my chicks!"

The Bantams - A True Story

By Brigette Stephens, North Carolina

Morning...

Gertrude McCluck strode into the coop yard. Breakfast time had come. The hens sure wanted some breakfast! Soon a white rooster named Milk came out. "Good Morning!" he said as he passed by the hungry hens. After eating some Layena, Gertrude went over to the place where the chicks lived. As she neared, the chicks became excited! Gertrude had a story!

The Coop History...

"As you know," began Gertrude, "Milk, Dancer, Broody and Feathers are bantam chickens. This is their story."

Once upon a time when Milk was a cockerel, he mated with a pullet named Cookie. It's funny their names were Milk and Cookie... but on with the story. One day when the hen house was moved, nine eggs were found hidden under the nesting box! Cookie had been hiding her eggs - nine of them! Cookie was allowed to sit on the eggs and 4 of them hatched. The chicks were named Dancer II, Broody, Feathers and Stranger.

"Nice bit of chicken history, eh?" asked Milk.

"You like it because it's your history. Don't you?" replied Gertrude.

"Why does it have to be a Buff Orpington guessing my secrets?" sighed Milk.

Gertrude McCluck and the Egg Stealing Thief

By Ellie Terry, Tennessee

It had started out as a perfectly ordinary Saturday morning. Last night I had been so tired my tail feathers were dragging, but this morning I was rested and refreshed. I quickly ran outside to see if the farmer was out side. She was just coming out with the feed pail and her boots. I quickly ran back inside, quickly preened my feathers, and started to wake everyone up. "Wake up, It's time to eat!" I yelled. Feathers of every size began to fall like a colorful snow. Chickens ran around the coop. It happens every morning, so it was not a surprise to me. Just then the farmer walked in, and everything fell silent. Then someone yelled, "BAGAK! Let's eat!"

After breakfast was finished, Babs flew to her nesting box. Then, to our surprise she started yelling. " Chick-a-Dee, you thief!" she cackled. "What are you talking about? I didn't take anything!" she answered. "Well, someone took my eggs!" She cried. "Calm down, Babs! Describe your eggs!" I said. "They were brown, a very light brown." She answered, before bursting into tears. "How many did you have?" I asked. "Triplets!" she sobbed. "I will go ask Hermes if he has seen anything." I assured her. So I quickly ran out of the coop, flew over the fence, and sprinted toward the pasture. I flew over the pasture gate, sprinted across the pasture, and ran right into Hermes. "Gee, you could have warned me you were here before I nearly knocked myself out!" I said irritably, before adding, " Have you seen anything suspicious?"

"Yes, I saw Ester Bunny going into the coop last night. She went in with a basket. She came back out] and dumped the contents of the basket into the rabbit hole. At least that's what I think. It was dark out, and I am kind of far away from the coop, so it was hard to see. You might want to check the rabbit hole if you're looking for something missing in the coop." he said. "Gee, thanks Hermes!" I said, before sprinting off. I flew over the gate, and began sprinting toward the coop. I was getting tired, and I slowed down. Skittles the dog was near the coop, so I came up to him and said, " Take me to the coop. I'm to tired to move." He started running, so I had to hold on tight. He stopped at the fence, which I flew over. I quickly walked to the rabbit hole, and when I looked inside, I saw three light brown eggs. " Miss Ester Bunny, you have something] that belongs to my friend. Please give back those three brown eggs." I said. She replied, "Oh, are these yours? I was going to use them in my project, but I guess you can have them back." She looked kind of sad, so I told her, " Wait right here, Ester." I ran into the coop, and ran to Babs. I whispered into her ear, she nodded, and I ran back out. " Ester, you can have this egg for your art!" I told her. She took the egg happily, before saying, " Oh, thanks!"

Case closed.

Gertrude McCluck's Adventure

By Nathan West, Colorado

Nathan West & Orio

Once upon a time, there was a chicken named Gertrude McCluck. Her real name is Oreo. Now this is Gertrude's story:

One day she was walking and looking at the sky at the same time when she fell into a mud puddle, and discovered a different world. And then there were these scary creatures down there. She was running away and then fell into another mud puddle. Then, she was at her world, but where was she in the world? She was at the other side of the chicken fence. So, the farmer saw her and put her at the other side of the fence.

The Case of the Old Farm

By Logan Williams, Arizona

One day Gertrude McCluck saw an old farm. Gertrude was scared of the spooky farm. Then she asked Skittles for clues. Next she asked Bessie the cow if she knows who the owner was because she once lived there.

It's time to investigate. Gertrude sees eyes in the closet. Gertrude finds footprints in the bedroom. Then Gertrude sees a ghost in the hall.

Gertrude McCluck solves the mystery. The footprints were Julia's. The eyes in the closet were Jonny Owl's. The ghost was really clothes on a hanger.

Gertrude solves the mystery.

No Tail Meets Gertrude McCluck

By Sydney Yates, Virginia

My chicken is named No Tail. She likes to go on car rides. One day we went to the store with her for her birthday. We left the windows open. When we were in the store she flew out the window! I was worried. I wanted to look for her but we had to get home.

No Tail was wandering on the streets, when she saw a light brown chicken. No Tail said "Hi" and the light brown chicken said "Hi, what's your name?

"My name is No Tail."
"I can see why your called No Tail" said the brown chicken. My name is Gertrude McCluck. I solve mysteries. I have heard your name before. That's right, I read your column in the Backyard Poultry magazine."

No Tail and Gertrude McCluck talked for awhile about their families, where they lived, and No Tail decided to stay with Gertrude McCluck. No Tail was going to spend the next five days hanging out with Gertrude McCluck.

Gertrude introduced No tail to her chicken crew. No tail had a blast for five days! No tail and the crew of city chickens ate worms, layed eggs and took dirt baths in the beautiful sun all day. No tail began to feel sad. He missed his owner Sydney, and his crew at home in Goochland. No Tail, Gertrude McCluck, and the city crew decided to travel the 10 miles with No Tail's home. All the chickens ate, drank, and then began the trip. On the way home it stormed, they got chased by a mean dog, and a red fox almost ate them for dinner. The crew of chicken started to think they were not going to make it to Goochland. They were hungry, thirsty, and tired of laying their eggs along the dirty road.

They finally arrived at No Tail's home and met all of the Goochland chickens. When Sydney came to get the eggs she screamed "No tail how are you? I missed you so much!" She saw Gertrude McCluck and the city crew with No Tail. She loved them all and named Gertrude McCluck , Pancake. Sydney wanted all the chickens to live on her farm forever. All the chickens decided to stay in Goochland. No tail and Gertrude McCluck stayed best friends and even layed on their eggs together. Now there are double the amount chickens!!!

The Snowboard Attack

By Hayden Zahn, Arizona

Gertrude McCluck has yellow feathers and a yellow beak. Peanut is a penguin but is happy to be in the snow. Chocolate is a slobbering Bull dog. They went up the hill to go snowboarding because it was snowing.

They all were snowboarding and they crashed into a tree. When they crashed into the tree, the Bull dog was bleeding on his leg and the wolves came. Then ten hungry wolves tried to attack all of them.

Gertrude pulled Peanut aside and made a plan. Gertrude had a motor snowboard in her hand and they all hopped on and road away before the wolves could catch them. They were riding and they found a wooden house with a stove. They hid in the house. After they rested, they looked ridiculous because they slept funny. Then they got on the motor snowboard and followed their steps back to Gerney Acres.

Gertrude McCluck, the Tree Hugging Hero

By Anton Zambell, New Jersey

Anton Zambell with "Penny" his pet chicken.

"Wow what is that noise"? Gertrude peered up on her perch to see what that horrific noise was! "Bang, Plop, Bang, Plop" the hens were scared out of their feathers just hearing the sounds outside their quiet chicken coop.

Gertrude took her flock to the nesting boxes for safety and scurried outside the coop door to get a closer look. She couldn't believe her eyes! The beautiful shady trees that surrounded her coop were being chopped down. She had to do something quick. But what?

Gertrude had an idea. She flew to get some tools, got the other girls, and went outside to scare the tree hunters away. She wanted to show them that these chickens are not really "chicken"! Gertrude and her flock went after the axe men in one big swarm to scare them away. These men have never seen angry hens before! They had fear in their eyes for sure.

They squawked the most horrifying squawk the men have ever heard. The hens flew at the men in one large band and scared the tree cutters away. They began pecking at them until they dropped the axe. The axe dropped to the ground and the men ran frantically back to their truck and drove away.

"Now what should they to do with the axe left behind", the hens asked? Gertrude had a marvelous idea. So these tree huggin' hens hauled the axe and brought it back to their coop. Gertrude wanted to do something good with something so bad. So the hens made a beautiful new perch to rest on and put it high up in the coop. From that day on, and each and every day thereafter, they sat on their new "trophy" perch and appreciated the earth around them. They enjoyed the beautiful trees they so very much loved and never took them for granted! They felt proud to save the trees that kept the earth green and beautiful.

P.S. Those men never, ever come back again.