My poor first time broody sat on her eggs the entire time. They should have hatched Saturday and didn't. The chicks in the incubator did though. She is still sitting on the remaining two eggs and I have been debating on giving her a few chicks. I want her to have babies, I just don't want to risk the lives of perfectly healthy chicks. Thoughts?
If the hen has raised chicks before, hold a chick near where the hen can hear it cheep. If the hen answers the chick by clucking to the sound, give her the chick and watch. If the chick is rejected you will know almost immediately by the hen pecking hard. In that event you could try giving her the chicks at night in the dark. Should the first chick be accepted, wait a while, and give another and... I have fostered chicks a great deal. All were successful except one. And ghat one had been brooding less than a week.