Broody and Featherless?

[umanduhbree]

This is one of our broody hens. She has been nesting for several months, but still won't stay on a clutch long enough to hatch baby chicks. Last week we noticed that her breast is bare. Is this normal for hens who are broody for a long time or is this indicative of a great problem? Any advice? Her back is slowly recovering from sunburn and our rooster.

 

[Den in Penn]

Some hens pull their belly feathers to make better contact with the eggs. So that isn't necessarily produced by time on the eggs.