Henny Penny

My name is Henny Penny and I am a beautiful Rhode Island Red hen. I was given as an Easter present to a little girl who lived in a house. I was a good little chick and the little girl loved me but as I began to grow, as we chickens do, the little girl’s parents decided that I would have to move out of the house that I had known as home for my whole life. I was moved into a small cage in the backyard and although I was frightened, at first the little girl visited me often and kept my food and water bowls full. As time went by, however, the girl visited less and less often and sometimes my food and water bowls remained empty for days at a time. My old family didn’t really have time for me anymore and the little girl didn’t play with me as much since I was no longer a little fluffy chick. I got my grown-up feathers and no one thought I was very cute anymore. They said I was messy and a burden to keep fed and watered - and besides, the dad would say, “no chickens are allowed in the city limits.” I was so sad. I’m pretty sure they knew I was a chicken when they brought me home. I tried not to be messy but my cage was so small and I often was hungry and hot and thirsty. I tried to get out of the cage to go lay in the shade but it was no use. It was probably a good thing, too, because the family had a big dog who kept looking at me and licking his lips. I don’t think that the dog liked me very much! I wondered what would happen to me. Thankfully, just when I had almost lost all hope, my old family did me a huge favor! They took the time to try and find me a more suitable place to live, something that not all families will bother to do! They found the Sanctuary and my new mom said that I could live with them. When the little girl came to get me out of my cage, I was so happy to see her but I was frightened to ride in the car. I couldn’t understand where we were going. When we arrived at the shelter, I was in for a shock! There were other chickens everywhere! They were all happy and no one was in a cage. I was excited to see all of the green grass and hay and places to look for food but I was very nervous because I had not been around other chickens for a long time. I tried to hide from all of the other hens that came to greet me but soon I made friends and began acting like a chicken! I guess I had it in me all of the time! Now I am one of the most beautiful and friendly hens at the sanctuary. I have taught the others how to sneak food from the goats’ food bowls (even though we have plenty of food of our own) and I have a special roost in the henhouse where I sleep every night!! This is the best place a little red hen could hope for and I lay a big brown egg every day to thank my new forever Mom for taking me in!