Here's something you can try, Herringboned 28. Take one of the accepted babies and hold it gently until it screams bloody murder. Momma hen gets anxious and then almost frantic. Then put the late-hatcher and the screaming baby in with the mother at the same time. In my experience, momma is so intent on the screamer being returned to her that she never even notices that she is getting two for one. And once it's in there... well, hens can't count. This trick is easier where larger numbers of chicks with mom. In this case, with only two accepted chicks, it might work best if you kidnap both of them. If you wear something with loose sleeves you can tuck the third chick up your sleeve so that it is less obvious to the hen what you are up to. It should be easy to release it with the one you are holding in that hand. I take no credit for this method. Someone's kid thought it up and his mother posted it on one of the forums a long time ago. I thought it was cute and clever -- and so I remembered it when I needed it last summer. Worked like a charm... and the advantage over sneaking it under at night is you don't have to be up at the crack of dawn to make sure mom isn't pecking on it. You can just hang around for a bit at a civilized hour of the day. Towards evening might be the best time... that way they will soon sleep and the little chick will have time on its side to get used to life under a momma hen.

I guess the story is not over...as I said, little TUTI left at 1:55pm. At about 4:10pm, I heard a rustle in the birdless box (I left the nest there for now). The HOWR FRANTICALLY started to de-construct the nest. Grabbing nest material--fur, straw, grass, leaves--out of the hole! It was in a frenzy!!! It would grab something and almost throw itself at the hole to get the material out! If it went to grab a chunk of fur too big to take out, it pulled and pulled at it till it broke it down to a size that would go out the hole. Fast and furious. I did catch this frenzy on tape so I'll be putting that online in the next few days. I closed off the box for today. I need some rest. I can't imagine how such a little bird can do what I saw it do: peck eggs and throw them out, peck chicks and throw them out, attack almost-fledged chicks, and de-construct a HUGE TUTI nest! Blessings, Linda...

I have personally seen one egg hatch on the 21st day (nest cam) but that is very unusual. There were 3 in that nest and only the one hatched. Diane, just to be on the safe side I'd probably leave them another day or two but it's probably unlikely they'll hatch. I'm sure that extreme cold or heat can be a factor in a failed nesting. I understand how you feel, not wanting to be the "bad guy" by removing her eggs but they do forgive and forget quickly and buy cleaning out this one, she might have another go at it. I think I'd remove the eggs but leave the nest. Lisa, I also suffer from CRS! On a daily basis! :D

Great shot Kendra! I still don't know for sure if only four or all five made it from my third nesting. I only see four at a time but for some reason I think all five are here. Not positive though, they don't all come as a group...mom did most of the feeding of the fledglings this go round. Both adults are looking really scruffy in their moulting..Fledglings have been feeding themselves for some time now. The all come to the mealworm feeder...that is when there is room as we have at least 11 Orioles that visit the mealworm feeder several times a day too. Plus they went through 2lbs of jelly in two days! I know they will be leaving soon though...they sure are pretty. Donna