Here's the story. I have a free range hen that was sitting on unfertilized eggs for 2 1/2 weeks. The eggs were really stinky. She got off her nest for a while yesterday and I managed to remove all the eggs. I replaced the eggs with 3 egg shaped rocks. She accepted those as her eggs. I purchased 4 day old chicks from the feed store. Last night after dark - around 9 pm I went to her nesting place. (She made her nest behind a garage door panel leaning up against a building.) I tilted back the door panel so I could get to her and place the chicks. We had to use a flashlight so we could see where she was sitting. I took the chicks and placed them one at a time under her wings. I didn't get the rocks out. She began pecking at the chicks. The chicks were quiet and seemed happy to be with a mom. I put the door panel back in place and waited a couple of minutes to see how things would go. I could hear her pecking at the door panels. So, I tilted the panel back again and removed the chicks. I was concerned for their safety. I put the panel back. So, now what do I do? Do I try this again tonight? I think I need to try to get the chicks under her belly and take away the rocks which I didn't do last night. She is a free range chicken that I adopted about 2 months ago. She really isn't used to being handled by humans. Any help and advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I've heard the opposite - that it very often does work. I'd remove the egg-rocks and place the chicks under her wings as quickly and quietly as you possibly can - then get out of there and leave her to it. She'll need time to settle after the disturbance. http://muckycluckers.blogspot.com/
