diff --git a/api.lua b/api.lua
index 3f8f8a1..75bd17c 100644
--- a/api.lua
+++ b/api.lua
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ end
 
 mobs = {
 	mod = "redo",
-	version = "20241110",
+	version = "20241113",
 	spawning_mobs = {},
 	translate = S,
 	invis = minetest.global_exists("invisibility") and invisibility or {},
@@ -1402,7 +1402,7 @@ function mob_class:replace(pos)
 		return
 	end
 
-	local what, with, y_offset
+	local what, with, y_offset, reach
 
 	if type(self.replace_what[1]) == "table" then
 
@@ -1411,15 +1411,23 @@ function mob_class:replace(pos)
 		what = self.replace_what[num][1] or ""
 		with = self.replace_what[num][2] or ""
 		y_offset = self.replace_what[num][3] or 0
+		reach = self.replace_what[num][4] or 0
 	else
 		what = self.replace_what
 		with = self.replace_with or ""
 		y_offset = self.replace_offset or 0
+		reach = 0
 	end
 
 	pos.y = pos.y + y_offset
 
-	if #minetest.find_nodes_in_area(pos, pos, what) > 0 then
+	local found = minetest.find_nodes_in_area(
+			{x = pos.x - reach, y = pos.y, z = pos.z - reach},
+			{x = pos.x + reach, y = pos.y, z = pos.z + reach}, what)
+
+	if #found > 0 then
+
+		pos = found[random(#found)]
 
 -- print("replace node = ".. minetest.get_node(pos).name, pos.y)
 
diff --git a/api.txt b/api.txt
index 456b60d..9a50e83 100644
--- a/api.txt
+++ b/api.txt
@@ -289,11 +289,12 @@ eating.
                     y offset by using this instead:
                     {
                        {"group:grass", "air", 0},
-                       {"default:dirt_with_grass", "default:dirt", -1}
+                       {"default:dirt_with_grass", "default:dirt", -1, 0}
                     }
    'replace_with'   replace with what e.g. "air" or in chickens case "mobs:egg"
    'replace_rate'   how random should the replace rate be (typically 10)
-   'replace_offset' +/- value to check specific node to replace
+   'replace_offset' +/- y offset value to check specific node to replace
+   'reach'          horizontal reach around mob for replace, default is 0
 
    'on_replace(self, pos, oldnode, newnode)' is called when mob is about to
                                              replace a node.