On the edge of a quiet forest, in a hillside cave, there was a tiny village made by birds. Dozens of little bird families lived there. They had small, round nests made from grass, feathers, and thread. The nests were lined up like houses along tiny pebble paths. There were even miniature gardens with baby carrots, wild strawberries, and sunflower sprouts.
One bright morning, the mother birds got ready to fly out and gather food. They chirped to their chicks, “Be good while we’re gone! Clean your nests and help each other!”
“We will!” the little birds promised.
After the mothers left, the chicks worked hard. They tidied their nests, filled leaf-cups with water, and polished acorn caps for bowls. Then they sat and waited for their mothers to return.
Suddenly, a large black crow landed at the cave entrance. His feathers were shiny, and his eyes were sharp.
“CAW! CAW!” he called loudly, stepping inside. “This cave looks perfect for me! Move out, little birds!”
The chicks peeked out from their nests. One tiny finch fluttered forward and said, “This is our home. You can’t just take it!”
But the crow laughed and flapped his big wings. “I’m bigger. I’m stronger. This cave belongs to me now!”
The chicks didn’t know what to do. They were scared, but they didn’t want to leave. The crow started tossing around their neat nests and kicking over their tiny gardens.
By the time the mothers came back, the cave was a mess.
“What happened here?” one mother gasped.
The chicks explained everything. “The big black crow came and told us to leave!”
The mothers looked toward the cave entrance. Sure enough, the crow was still there, resting on a pile of broken twigs.
The birds gathered for a meeting. “We have to stop him,” said one mother. “But he’s too strong.”
Then a soft voice said, “Maybe we don’t need to fight him.”
Everyone turned. It was a little brown hen, the smallest bird in the village.
“If we’re smart,” she said, “we can make him want to leave on his own.”
The next morning, the little birds got to work. They didn’t argue with the crow. Instead, they were extra noisy. They clucked, chirped, whistled, and peeped—all day long.
“Why are you all so loud?” the crow groaned.
“We’re just warming up for our morning concerts,” said the hen cheerfully.
The next day, the birds placed pinecones all around the cave floor so the crow kept stepping on them.
“Ow! What’s going on?” he shouted.
“Sorry!” chirped the birds. “We’re remodeling.”
The next day, the birds made the cave smell funny by bringing in wild onions, mushrooms, and old leaves. The crow held his beak.
“Ugh! What is that awful smell?”
“We call it ‘forest freshness,’” said the hen.
The crow tried to sleep, but the chicks practiced singing right above his perch. He tried to eat, but the birds kept offering him dishes he didn’t like—stinky seed stew, bitter berry salad, and crunchy bark chips.
Finally, the crow had had enough.
“This place is too noisy, too pokey, too smelly, and too weird!” he yelled. “I’m leaving!”
With a flap and a grumble, he flew out of the cave and never came back.
The birds cheered. The mothers hugged their chicks. And the clever little hen became a hero.
From that day on, the bird village was peaceful again. The gardens were replanted. The nests were rebuilt. And the birds learned that being clever and working together could solve even the biggest problems.
And if anyone asked how they got rid of the crow, the chicks would smile and say:
“We annoyed him away!”
“The Clever Little Hen” by Nina D. Smith, published by Bright Bunny Books © 2025. Retelling of “The Story of the little Birds Who Lived in a Cave” from Fairy Tales from South Africa by E. J. Bourhill and J. B. Drake, originally published in 1908.
“The Clever Little Hen” is intended for students in grades 3–5, offering a fun and lighthearted tale about problem-solving, teamwork, and clever thinking in a way that’s easy to read and engaging.
Bright Bunny Books 