When they were small...

Now they are scampering around outside with the big flock wearing proper wings and tails and surely thinking they are all grown up, but when they were merely days old...I was working in the greenhouse, the Chickery was in there with me because the chicks were brand new (they have a few chickery days in the greenhouse before going outside), and the Blondies and their mom were rummaging around in it, as they do.I noticed she seemed to be digging with unusually single-minded determination in one corner.I looked in on them once and she had dug a hole.  I thought, any minute, a chick is going to be able to slip out of there.Before I turned away, one did. Then another.  When she would pause her digging efforts, a chick would dive in to see if there was anything interesting in the hole, and retreat when dirt started flying again.Once all the chicks were popping in and out like electrons, I decided it was time for them to go outside.  I popped a box over top of Mom (highly offended noises), lifted the chickery off and wrestled it outside while the chicks cheeped in the corner.Then I grabbed the chicks and introduced them to grass.  Then I went back to the grumbling, rattling box, and returned mom to the chicks.  Outdoors time!