broody hen is not actually sitting on her eggs

[Chicks 'n ducks]

I have a broody silkie hen that raised babies back in February. She had been broody for about 5 days when I gave her some baby chicks, who she cared for wonderfully. Now shes at it again but I don't have any baby chicks on hand to give her, so I gave her fertile eggs. But every time I check on her, the eggs are sitting next to her, cold. It's so frustrating. Do you think that since the first time she was broody she got chicks instead of eggs she doesn't understand that you need to incubate the eggs in order to hatch them?

 

[sourland]

Have you provided enough bedding to make a bowl shaped nest ?

 

[Chicks 'n ducks]

No, currently she is just one the wood with sawdust on top. I'll give her more bedding then! That sounds like a perfect solution.