# The orphan chicken that says quack

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-orphan-chicken-that-quacks
- Themes: humour, perception, evidence
- Life situations: arguing over labels, needing less certainty

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

After years of the chicken-or-duck story, people sent him evidence: an orphaned chicken raised by ducks that goes quack quack — so a quack does not prove a duck.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

there was a real um chicken. It was a poor little chicken when he was born. was orphaned. So, it was adopted by a mother duck. This is true. I've got the paper somewhere in sometimes. Adopted by a family of ducks. And this little chicken goes quack- quack. It's a chicken. That's its species. That's what it is. But it goes quack quack. So, there is I've got evidence there is one chicken in this world at least who goes quack quack

## Teaching point

Even the sound you trust can belong to another species.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

After years of his chicken-or-duck story, someone sent Ajahn Brahm proof of a chicken raised by ducks that quacks. So a quack doesn't make a duck. When you disagree with someone you love, connect first. Once they feel heard, they can hear you. Put harmony first, and walk closer to the truth together.

## Source

- [Growing from Difficulties | Ajahn Brahm | 3 April 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EQZ-nakfo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 51:41 to 52:23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EQZ-nakfo&t=3101s

Other tellings of this story:

- [The Right to Believe? | Ajahn Brahm | 18-05-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Prm3nAvFs) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 13:26 to 13:39: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Prm3nAvFs&t=806s
- [New Year's Eve with Ajahn Brahm | 31 December 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk6GJ499J5k) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 36:44 to 37:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk6GJ499J5k&t=2204s