The old man had told the little chicken stories about "bad people" that took things that did not belong to them. The little chicken couldn't really understand these stories. He had never owned anything before. Sometimes, in the wilderness, bigger animals had taken food from him, but that was different. Everything needed food. Food isn't a thing to own. It is a thing to eat!
Did these creatures want to eat his button? He didn't think so. The button was pretty but it didn't smell like food!
"Should I give them my button? Maybe they will let me go home if I give them my button!"