How to tell a broody?

She sounds broody. In fact, the same thing happened to me (well, similar) today. Maybe our hens are in a conspiracy . Sometimes the hen is distracted or when she gets off she never comes back. Believe me, you want a broody box. You just do. It's easy, I made one out of cardboard today. If they have a dark, quiet place to sit they will sit, and also they get irritated and may stop sitting if a hen lays with her. I thought this was impossible but it happened today . She probably is broody, but won't hatch until separated (not even separated, just closed off. My box will be in the coop)

If you want chicks, listen to me. If you don't, the one trick I hear works is Ziploc some ice, then put it on the bedding. She usually doesn't sit anymore, I hear.

I would give the hen eggs. Just make sure she is separated (however you want to go about doing that). The hen usually does all the work, besides you giving the chooks their med mash. Also, because you raised chicks before, and I am guessing the four you integrated were the chicks you hatched out, an idea is to use their brooder (which held 4 chicks, which makes it a decent size) and put the hen in it with her chicks after hatch. It's a good separation method and it allows them to be under our watchful eyes. I'd bet the hen would be happy if you egg'd her, but it's her decision.

Also, maybe consider getting a rooster. They protect the flock and can save you money for fertilized eggs in a situation like this. Just remember you wait a week after introducing the rooster, and the sperm lasts only about a week. If you hate crowing, it's as simple as getting a more docile (with silkies, it's not hard at all) and quiet one. I have one rooster that keeps the peace between the other chickens. He's the sweetest little guy...

Good luck!

You got a brooder on your hands!!!

You should separate the hen in a dark, quiet box for her to work on her eggs. She won't get distracted and likely won't leave halfway through. I would close the broody box off except for the thrice per day feeding/watering/pooping breaks. This way she won't wander off. Some hens don't sit on anything, others find an egg and sit, other sit on those they lay. Some hens don't lay a clutch. I think for Silkie breed avg. clutch size is 8 (of course, you can give her as many eggs as you want, she'll be happy with any at all). Just separate her, and on hatch there are different approaches. One might put them back, others put the hen in the brooder, other remove the chicks and artificially brood (don't do it, the hen will be DEVASTATED!!!). 

If you leave her in the coop, a set up is to tightly cover 1-2 nest boxes and thrice daily let her out for feed/water/poop and put her back in, then cover, this way no hens will lay with her (ridiculous, didn't think they'd do it,, they do...) and she won't leave midway because of being distracted...

I'm going to be moving my silkie to the garage when I get home in the morning. Even though there are 2 other empty nest boxes the other hens keep laying eggs in her nest box and my silkie keeps breaking and eating them. When I move her will it effect her place in the pecking order when she returns?