Flight of the Chickens!

Our girls are growing up so fast.  They will be 4 weeks old tomorrow.
Today was a big day for one of them.
Our little Mabel decided that she would test out all those new wing feathers she's been growing.
We had been watching them do mini 'test flights' the past couple of days, but they would only get 6 to 8 inches off the ground. We thought we had at least another week until we had to worry about them getting out of the brooder box. That all changed today.  Oh, we are so naive.
I assume all parents underestimate what their young 'ums can do.  And of course it all happens the moment you turn your back.  It's like they are little prisoners just waiting for the right moment to make their escape.

I figure the planning went something like this....
Henrietta (the head chicken), 'OK, Girls, huddle up.  I think it's time we make a break for it.  Do we all agree we're tired of looking at these same four walls?'
Peeping and head nodding all around.
'All right then, I have a plan.  Gather round.  I say we send out a scout to investigate what is outside this box, and I think the best way to do that is have one of us fly up and out the box and report back what they see.'
'Do we all agree?'
More peeping and chicken twittering.
Mildred asks,'Who should we send?'
Henrietta, 'Excellent question Mildred.  I believe Mabel is our best flyer.  What do you say Mabel? You up for a little adventure?'
Mabel's little beady chickens eyes get very wide.  She gulps and says in a high pitched voice, 'Me?!'
All the girls gather round Mabel and cheer her on.
Henrietta, 'It's settled then.  The next time the 'Big Head' is out of sight you're on Mabel.'
'Shoosh, here comes 'Big Head' again, act natural.'  Peeping and scratching commences.
'OK, 'Big Head' is gone, you're on Mabel.'
'Yeah, go Mabel, go!'
Mabel tests her wings and takes a deep breath.  She flaps faster and hovers inches off the floor.
'You can do it Mabel!  Keep flapping!'
Mabel gives it all she's got.  Flap, flap, flap....and out of the box she goes!
She lands on top of the brooder box extension (A.K.A. the top of the dog crate).
She looks around wide eyed and reports that she can see the food bin from there. And also the big black beast (our dog, Riley)...who appears to be napping.
But just as she is starting to relay back all the information 'Big Head' reappears and scoops Mabel up and deposits her back in the brooder box.
Mabel seems dazed by her experience.
'The Girls' gather round her like little peeping convicts and ask 'What's it like on the outside?'
Mabel simply states, 'Big.'

They have no idea....



Update:  We put mesh on top of the brooder box to keep our girls safe:)