All chickens: Hello, Sophia and Elanor!
Agnes: Miss Sophia (beaming)? The stories Mama told from your travelogue were some of my very, very favorites. They were so quietly lovely and sharply observed.
Emily: Words, words, words, Agnes! Sometimes I think Mama shouldn't read to us so much if it means you're gonna keep getting new words to use.
Anne: Earlybird flock, you went through so many changes. I admire how your family has helped each other through them.
Bessie: I liked hearing about how the pullets integraregate...
Charlotte: it's "integrate"... (from the top of the waterer; teetering a bit when she turns to correct her sister)
Bessie: okay, then, what she said (gesturing up towards Charlotte's perch), you pullets did when you went to live with the big girls.
Agnes: Um, guys? We still haven't introduced ourselves! Here, let me start. I'm Agnes, and I'm a Rhode Island Red. My wing feathers are almost all in!
Bessie: Not as much as my wing feathers, Agnes, you know my shoulder and tail feathers are way more grown in than yours. I'm Bessie, everyone! I'm a Rhode Island Red, too, but a little bigger than Agnes is even though we're both 12 days old. I'm brave, I'm almost always the first one Mama picks for cuddles because I'm the only one who rushes over to walk right onto her hand. I love cuddles
Emily: I'm next! Hi, everychicken, I'm Emily and I'm brave, too. When Mama put the mirror in our brooder I was the first one to check it out (okay, maybe I'm brave about things but, about people? not so much. don't tell my sisters, but i sometimes try to hide when Mama comes in...its scary to get picked up that high!) I'm the biggest sister and I'm a Barred Rock.
Charlotte: My name is Charlotte, and I like to spend a good deal of time practicing my perching...and thinking. I even perched on Mama's finger once! Mama says there is a wonderful roost going in the new coop and I want to be ready. I'm a Barred Rock like Emily and Anne, but, I'm quieter than Emily and brav- um, er...more "adventuresome" than Anne. I like cuddles with Mama. I'm a touch nervous about being picked up, but once I'm securely snuggled against Mama's chest or nestled under her chin, I just get so relaxed and can't help softly trilling
Anne: - - -(oblivious to the introductions going on, diligently scratching and throwing pine shavings into the water. mutters to self) Every time the water gets dirty, Mama comes.
Other chickens: Anne!
Anne: I wonder how many times I can get Mama to change it before bedtime?
Other chickens: ANNE!!!
Anne: ?
Charlotte: It's your turn, Anne.
Anne: ?
Agnes: Your turn to tell everychicken about yourself, dear.
Anne:: Oh! Sorry, I just get so absorbed in scratching...
I'm Anne and I'm the littlest in the brooder but do more scratching than anyone. I scratch the shavings into the water to make sure Mama visits us lots, I scratch through the shavings to look for feed, I scratch the feed into the shavings so there's something to find when I scratch...scratching's fun! My sisters don't always want me to snuggle with them until they're all in a pile and very sleepy. But, Mama loves to cuddle me and she calls me "sweet little Anne". I like that. I don't really like getting caught for the cuddles, though.
