"Who will adopt this duckling?" asked the farmer.
"Not I!" said the cat. "That duckling is dirty and misbehaves."
"Not I!" said the dog. "That duckling does not look like my puppies."
"Not I!" said the horse. "I could not take the heartache if I don't get to keep that duckling."
"I will take the duckling," said the little red hen. "I will love it and feed it and raise it with my little chicks."
"Don't you have enough chicks to raise?" asked the cat. "How can you possibly give them enough attention?"
"You're nest is already a mess!" said the dog. "What a pigsty!"
"That duckling is so young, he probably won't even remember that he has been hurt," said the horse. "You are so lucky to have that duckling."
The little red hen took the duckling home. She raised him with her chicks. The duckling quacked something awful. He left messes long after he was expected to. The duckling was often angry or sad. The duckling was constantly trying to get the other animals to take him home and let him live with their families.
"That little red hen must be abusing the duckling," meowed the cat. "I'd better report her to somebody."
"That little red hen is sure lazy!" barked the dog. "Why isn't she spending more time advancing the duckling's interests?"
"Little red hen, let me teach you how to take care of ducklings," offered the horse.
The little red hen was often tired. Sometimes she wanted to go out and stroll around the farm.
"Who will watch this duckling for me?" she asked.
"Not I!" said the cat. "I have so many mice to catch around the farm."
"Not I!" said the dog. "Maybe the duckling can just go with you?"
"I would," said the horse, "but I can't. Would you like me to enjoy the spring day for you?"
The duckling grew up into a handsome duck. He still struggled socially with the other animals and his judgement was that great, but he was friendly and well-liked.
"It takes a farmyard to raise a duckling," purred the cat.
"That little red hen just didn't try hard enough," grumbled the dog. "If she had just loved him more, the duck would be making better decisions."
"I know a little something about ducklings," whinnyed the horse. "The little red hen could have come to me for advice."
The little red hen watched her chicks grow to chickens and was glad to see them become tolerant and kind-hearted. One day a tiny mouse was found covered in mud and setting up an awful squeal.
"Who will take this little mouse?" asked the farmer.
"Not I!" said the cat.
"Not I!" said the dog.
"Not I!" said the horse.
"I will take the mouse," said the little red hen.
