I do not lift broodies off eggs or chicks any more, as I have found that mine will sometimes hold eggs or chicks under them, so they lift these as well. These can be hidden out of sight by the puffed out feathers. I am concerned about the risk of dropping them, and breaking eggs or harming newly hatched chicks.
You mentioned two false starts to sitting with your broodies. My original broody hen, who has been reliable in the past, hopped off the nest this year after sitting on expensive bought eggs for five days. It took me 24 hours to buy another broody and get her onto the eggs. Unbelievably, more than half of them still hatched! The miracle of life can be wonderfully tenacious, it seems!
You mentioned two false starts to sitting with your broodies. My original broody hen, who has been reliable in the past, hopped off the nest this year after sitting on expensive bought eggs for five days. It took me 24 hours to buy another broody and get her onto the eggs. Unbelievably, more than half of them still hatched! The miracle of life can be wonderfully tenacious, it seems!