Oh man, my most broody-prone hen tries never to get off to eat and poops in the nest (and then I "get" to clean it out after I throw her out to eat). We just got done with a broody spell where she brooded an empty box for about two months in the cold b/c I don't want chicks in January. Wouldn't mind if she'd take a broody class or two from your guys' birds. I let her try one clutch last year and, shocker, no hatch rate. I think for some "broodies" it's just best to let them incubate golf balls and then give them new day olds you incubated yourself under supervision. Next round with my broody I hatched her some and brought her into the bathtub and "delivered" her some chicks. Thrilled her to pieces. I'm pretty sure she thinks that's just part of the whole process now. We've done it several times and to her, chicks are spawned in a bathtub after being taken off the nest for 21 days straight so her quarters can be de-pooped. She's a great and loving (terrifying) tiny silkie mom once the babies come, but her broody mode is broken. Some hens just come with a broken broody setting and in nature they would cull themselves and their offspring.
