The Troubles of Biddy: A Pretty Little Story

Old Biddy longs for a family of her own, but her empty nest leaves her anxious and discouraged. When her mistress brings a basket of eggs and places them beneath Biddy’s warm feathers, the devoted hen feels her troubles have finally disappeared. Soon, however, the eggs hatch into a lively brood whose curious faces, unusual feet, and complete lack of chicken-like peeps leave their new mother wonderfully puzzled.

Determined to raise her children properly, Biddy watches over them with anxious clucks and plenty of advice. Yet her little brood seems drawn to muddy puddles, watering troughs, grassy fields, and every tempting adventure beyond the nest, while Biddy worries about illness, drowning, and all the dangers of the farmyard. Told in gentle rhyme and filled with playful misunderstandings, this tender story follows an earnest mother trying to keep her unconventional children safe—and learning that caring for them may require more patience and flexibility than she ever imagined.