I know right?
But what if all they need is a dark night to adjust, wake up and taadaa babies?! They would be such good mamas as they are high ranking hens.
What if ya am taking that away from them?
But I truly cannot risk the babies and the stress to me worrying. So no I think I shall not try again.
I have given it some thought and I want to be I control of them. Gosh these birds are going to be the death of me!
Honestly, if Dorothy was initially okay - I would certainly try again at night. I had a broody that I put some chicks under. Initially she went crazy pecking everything - but I think it was because she went into 'save my chicks mode - DANGER, DANGER. I watched her for a couple of minutes after I was done putting them all under her and she - after a few minutes of pecking them - settled down and let them snuggle under her. I realized that she was A) Pecking ME to keep them safe, and B) pecking them trying to get them to stay under her. Once everyone settled down, all was good.
I know Whiskers was bad last time, but it my have been too early. I had a DC (who is a GREAT mom, BTW), kill a chick that hatched early. It must have been an egg that was missed...as it hatched about 12-13 days into me letting her set on eggs. I came out one morning and there was a dead chick under her - and it was mutilated - so it didn't just 'hatch and die'. That made me very nervous - but I wasn't sure what else to do as I didn't have another broody at the time to put the eggs under...so I let her continue to set. When the eggs hatched - at the normal time - she was great with all of them. I suspect that she knew that if she took care of that one, her 'other chicks' - the ones still in the eggs - would die. Or else they go through different phases during broodiness and she wasn't ready for chicks. Since she can't speak English, and I only know a few words in Chickenese, I am not sure which it is.
Anyways - I definitely would try Dorothy again - Whiskers is up to you....but if you do try Whiskers, try her FIRST...watch what she does with the two chicks, and if you decide to remove them, then put all 4 at once under Dorothy, so she isn't disturbed once chicks are under her.....that will cause mayhem/fighting momma to come out.
The up side if they get the chicks is that the chicks will break their 'sit oon eggs broody streak'
My two cents. Maybe someone else has other thoughts. Ultimately, you will need to do what you think is best - for the chicks and for your mental/emotional well being. (Too much worry is not good, either.)