There are two methods that MAY work... although they are risky with that much difference in age between the chicks. Still, I successfully added a couple of chicks that were about five days younger than the others using what I like to call the "two for one" method. A kid thought this one up and his mother posted it on the forum a long time ago. One bright kid! Put the two orphaned chicks in a bucket (not a clear one) or similar container. Kidnap the hen's current babies and add them to the bucket. (A butterfly net works great for catching them.) The stolen chicks will set up a frantic peeping once they cannot see Mama... and Mama will fuss and scold and generally work herself up into a tizzy. The more upset she is, the better. When you get to the point when it looks like Mama's eyeballs will pop out of her head, lower the bucket and let out all four chicks. Typically Mama will be confused and know something is different, but will not be able to figure out what, since hens cannot count. And she is so relieved to have her babies back that she doesn't much care and accepts them all. But be ready to pull the younger chicks out if she starts hurting them. I've done this a few times and never had it fail. Hens are birdbrains. I THINK they can tell the difference between "one" and "more than one"... but not the difference between two and three or four. The more the chicks look alike, the better chance of success. The other method is the tried and true "wait until dark" method. You simply sneak them under her with her own when she is asleep and she assumes they are all hers when she wakes up. If it doesn't work, however, she may harm or kill the newcomers unless you are on the spot early to check on them. Forget the Vicks or other scent confusers. Chickens don't use scent to identify their young. They rely on sound and sight and situation. "They are under my wings so they must be mine." Good luck! And please post an update so we know how it turns out!

I have cobweb Hen's and Chicks, as well as dark purple, red, green w/ bright red tips, regular green, blue-ish gray. I would like to trade for night blooming cactus, and black pansy seeds. I can send 1 big "Hen" of each type I have, as well as several "chicks" of each kind. Thank you, M. poizzun_iv@yahoo.com

Cactusmcharris, The xeric garden is more or less undulating.........some high and low spots, by design. I have the cacti, succulents and others that don't like wet feet on the higher areas. As it is in your climate, the enemy here is winter wet, not so much cold temperatures. It's very open so it's airy, gets full sun all year, and I think the crushed stone mulch helps to hold a little warmth in winter, and keeps things dry and clean. This garden is fairly new, so the plants are still spreading, but I see the Sempervivums creating nice colonies now.

For trade or SASE.