Are they white
Are the white ones flighty like leghorns or calmer? I have a California tan hen and rooster, and the hen is white with black and grey spots. Much calmer than leghorns. I can pick her up with no problems and the rooster walks around my legs.
I’ve done it several times and been lucky each time. I put the broody hen in a pen by herself after she had been sitting for a couple of weeks. On the 20th - 21st day I’ll get chicks and slip them under her about an hour after dark and remove any eggs that haven’t shown life after candling. Of...
I also would not cover the run with anything but hardware cloth. If it’s raining the chickens can get under the coop. I use large shavings in my coop. It’s easier to shovel out. I tried hay a couple of years and the hardest time shoveling it out. The water nipples work fine, but you will need to...
Looks like they free range. If so there is the possibility they have a nest somewhere that you don’t know about. They like to hide when they are laying.
You should’ve waited until hers hatched and put the new ones in after dark. I’ve not had one yet that didn’t accept them when I put them under the hen after dark. You might try again after hers have hatched, but you’ll need to set up a brooder just in case she doesn’t accept them and to keep the...
The warm circulation of the air will dry them. Chicks don’t typically eat or drink till they are 3 days old. During those days they are absorbing the yolk that sustained them during development. Just make sure your brooder is ready and warm. If you don’t notice any chicks starting to eat/drink...