Yellow fluffy Chick hatched from an egg in the nest of old broody hen Ryaba. With joy, the broody hen clucked loudly throughout the barn: "Cluck-cluck! I'm so happy! How many little ones I have now! Come closer, sisters and neighbours, look at my chicks, congratulate me!".
Oh my! I also had ducklings born recently, ― quacked the grey duck. ― I didn't boast like that and didn't shout throughout the whole farmyard.
Quiet now. You'll frighten my goslings. They're only planning to come out of their eggs tomorrow, ― hissed the white goose, turning over her grey speckled eggs with her beak.
I'll come over and peck you, old hen, ― said the disgruntled turkey. ― My little ones are so timid and delicate, they're afraid of every sound. They might die of fright.
I have more little ones than anyone! ― Ryaba continued to boast. ― Soon our mistress will come and feed us delicious food!
The hen gathered her chicks and led them outside to show them the bright sun, blue sky, and warm earth. Scratching in the soil and finding an earthworm was her favourite activity.
Not far away, the already-grown turkey chicks with their mum and stern dad were nibbling green grass. The turkey parents watched their offspring carefully and chatted with each other.
Cluck-cluck! Everyone here, little chicks! ― clucked the hen. ― I found an earthworm for you!
The chicks together with their mum began scratching in the soil. At that moment, the duck came out of the barn with her ducklings and headed towards the pond nearby. The ducklings waddled after the grey Duck in single file, swaying from foot to foot. Little Chick tagged along with the duck family. She walked last. Ryaba was so busy with the worm that she didn't notice the absence.
The ducklings entered the pond and slowly swam after their mum. Chick walked after them deeper and deeper, but she couldn't manage to swim.
The Duck turned around and saw that the little chick had gone into the water… she was about to drown!
Quack-quack! Help! A chick in the water! ― she quacked loudly and rushed to help the little one. She grabbed Chick by the wing with her beak and threw her onto her back.
Hold on tight! I'll take you to the shore!
The duck swam, and Chick sat and looked around.
How beautiful it is on the pond! And I'm like a queen on a ship! ― the little rascal rejoiced.
Meanwhile, Ryaba finally noticed that one chick was missing.
Where is my chick, my little yellow bundle? Where has she gone? Has anyone seen my Chick? ― the hen began to cluck loudly.
The turkey family responded to her cry.
Scatterbrain, scatterbrain you are, Mum Ryaba, you didn't keep an eye on the chick!
A little puppy sitting in a kennel on a chain heard the birds making a fuss and barked loudly: "Woof-woof! Woof-woof!". Such a commotion arose that the mistress came out of the house. She looks: hen Ryaba is running about and clucking loudly.
What's happened? ― the woman thought. And suddenly she saw: the old Duck was walking, and behind her toddled a little yellow chick. The Duck was leading him to the farmyard, and the ducklings were swimming in the pond by themselves.
What a good girl you are, bringing the chick home. He must have tagged along with your family, and the hen didn't see. The little one wanted to have a swim, ― the mistress smiled.
Ryaba ran up to the grey Duck and began to thank her neighbour: "Thank you for finding my Chick! Now I'll watch the little ones more carefully!".
We're all mothers and should help one another, ― replied the Duck.
