help on a broody hen

[old geezer]

my smallests hen ,a BO named buffey--went broody a couple of days ago-----

-----she growles , dose the ruffle feather act ,and then will leave the nest for hours on end-----

---then go back to the nest and sit , this act goes on all day , the only hen she lets come near her is lucy , my RIR , and lets her crawl in and lay an egg ,,

....,the other hens are determined to not use the other nest boxes and just lay thie egg in the wood pine shaveing on the coop floor--

---is this a norm ????,or a not a good thing .....as today i put 12 suposedly fertile eggs in the broody nest , .....

....help please ...

 

[sheaviance1]

What i did was mark the fertile eggs so that you can collect any that aren't fertile daily. Mine is the sweetest broody in the world. She puffs up, but only until I pet her, then she settles right back down, eats a treat or two or ten. She hasn't offered to peck me at all. I've been taking her extra treats and water to the nest. She is getting off once a day, but I want her to keep her strength up. Good luck!!!!