This section explores The Self-Sacrificial Nature of Parenting as a theme, first through Straggler’s sacrificing himself to the weasel to save his unhatched child. The text again uses dramatic irony by emphasizing Sprout’s naivete; she wonders what Straggler means when he whispers to himself, “I’m okay. If he’s full he’ll be quiet for a while. It’s okay, as long as the egg hatches. I’m ready” (57). The text conveys that Straggler intentionally makes himself vulnerable by sleeping (or pretending to sleep) where the weasel will see him, essentially saving Baby by ensuring that the weasel’s belly will be full for enough time to allow Sprout and her adopted baby to escape the area.

Likewise, Sprout demonstrates self-sacrificial behavior, which typifies her as a loving and selfless mother. She channels Straggler’s strength of character in these moments, such as when she determinedly leaves the barn to save Baby and herself: “Sprout asked Straggler to give her courage. She had to protect Baby until he was grown” (75). The text establishes Sprout and Straggler as the parental team who protect and raise Baby, given the white duck’s premature death. Sprout jeopardizes her own health to continually move her nest each night, protecting Baby from the weasel. The selfless nature of motherhood is evident in the symbolism of Baby growing and strengthening through Sprout’s efforts, as Sprout herself languishes: “She suffered from a continuous cold. She had become very thin because they changed nests every day and she didn’t sleep well at night. Still, Baby was growing and looking quite duckish, a little more like Straggler every day” (89). Sprout obviously justifies her ailing health as an acceptable and necessary sacrifice for Baby’s continued growth and safety.

Sprout reacts with admirable courage when the weasel threatens Baby. Although she’s an old, thin chicken at this point, Sprout determinedly confronts the terrifying antagonist: “Sprout tensed her claws. She could sense the shadow of the frightening hunter approaching” (83). This moment dramatically illustrates her commitment to prioritizing Baby’s life and well-being over her own, as she’s prepared to sacrifice her own life to ensure his survival: “‘Don’t you dare!’ she threatened, prepared to die” (91). Sprout reflects on Straggler’s death and the hatching of Baby the next morning: “Sometimes a farewell and a greeting happened at the same time” (59). This reflection thematically refers to Nature’s Cycle of Death and Rebirth; Straggler dies to help ensure that the egg hatches safely and that Sprout and the hatchling can escape the weasel if necessary. Again, the text foreshadows Sprout’s death, once her role of raising Baby is concluded, to help ensure the survival of the baby weasels.

These chapters continue to emphasize the conformity of the farm animals to strict rules and how their behavior contrasts with Sprout’s independence; they mock her for hatching Baby, a duckling: “‘I’ll say,’ the dog taunted. ‘A chicken hatching a duck! What a ridiculous sight!’” (66). The farm animals are narrow-minded, accepting behavior and family structures established as normal in their highly regulated, human-controlled community, while fiercely mocking and rejecting all others for behavior that differs, such as Sprout’s escape from her role as an egg-laying hen in the coop and her raising of Baby the duckling. The novella continues to make allegorical comments on human nature via the conservative concerns of the barn animals, particularly the hen, who selfishly wants to exclude Sprout and her baby from the safety of the barn in order to protect her chicks from Sprout and Baby’s allegedly alarming presence:

‘I’m also worried about the chick’s education. I know they’ll keep asking, “Why does he quack and call a hen Mom? Why is he different from us?” Some of them might even quack. I can’t raise my chicks in a chaotic environment like that’ (68).

The hen’s concerns satirize conservatives who oppose same-sex marriage, transgender rights, often citing the need to protect their children from purported social “chaos” to defend their biases and desire to exclude minorities from society.

In addition, the text reveals that Baby’s growing independence is distressing to Sprout. Her distress explores the challenges inherent in parenthood, as children, who were once completely reliant on their parents, grow into independence, which can leave parents feeling bereft and empty, especially if their children’s choices are challenging or unexpected, like Baby’s desire to join the brace of ducks. Thus, the purpose and happiness that Sprout gained in becoming Baby’s mother is threatened by his increasing independence: “Her baby had grown up too fast. Sprout was restless all night. She didn’t know what to do. She was useless now, even as a protector, since the weasel didn’t come looking for them anymore” (96). Sprout feels “useless” because she shaped her identity around her role as a mother. Her distress is compounded by witnessing Baby’s cruel rejection by the ducks, which continues to illustrate the conservative values of the farm animals, who resent challenges to traditional roles: “They were cold to him. They yelled at him. The leader even attacked him. But Greentop kept hanging around” (96).