Oh, yeah, I forgot about my other broody. I am going to be totally honest here, just to show the good and bad of what can happen with hands off on a broody. I have also had a black mottled d'uccle sitting for the last 3 weeks. When my wife got home from work Friday, she was out in the pen with 2 fluffy babies. I asked her to look in the coop and see if there were any more. She looked, and there was a wet one in the nest, cold and barely alive. She put it in a brooder under a lamp, but it was too late. It had died by the time I got home. When I went to inspect the coop, another had hatched and died in the nest. This is this hen's first batch, so I think in her excitement to get the first hatchers outside, she left unhatched eggs on the nest that popped soon after she left. If I had it to do over again, I don't know what I would do. I probably wouldn't change anything. I have removed a broody hen to a broody box before, and after 3 weeks it was just like integrating a new chicken back into the flock. At least when they hatch in the pen, they are accepted by the other birds. I have my goal of 10 hens now, so hopefully I will be able to incubate loads of those eggs, and continue to count broody hatches as bonus chicks
, and yet they pile up in the yard to sleep. My first batch did that, and every chick hatched for the last 3 years has done the same. I don't know if that's a silkie thing, or mine are just extra special
Best news My guy has relented I shall br getting a few chickens Hazzah!
I know I speak with many English folks often 
