First broody hen, wanting to let her hatch eggs

[hisgirls]

I have an Australian Sussex who has gone broody. We do not have a rooster, so I we tried to break her broodiness by putting her in a bucket of cold water. That did not work. I have 2 coops and runs which are attached but keep my Australian Sussex and Lavender Orpington in the smaller area. They were younger and are both very sweet birds, unlike my Rhode Island Reds and Silver Laced Wyandotte which will bother my Lavender Orpington a little when I let them all out together, but constantly try to attack my Australian Sussex. My Sussex is the sweetest of birds. She has been broody about a week. Everyday I reach under her and remove the egg my Orpington laid. She does not peck me or growl, just looks at me with sad eyes and continues sitting like she has an egg under her. So, my sister has chickens and roosters. She is going to bring me fertilized eggs to let my Sussex sit on. I have two questions, 1) We will mark the fertile eggs. If I reach under her everyday to search for the egg laid by my Orpington, will I break her moodiness and upset her? 2) Once they hatch, should I let the baby chicks stay with the her until she appears to let them manage on their own before giving them to my sister? I don't want to be cruel to my mama hen.

 

[Pyxis]

Reaching under her to get the eggs shouldn't break her. Yes, you should let her raise the chicks - otherwise she will have sat on the eggs for three weeks for nothing

 

[hisgirls]

Thank you