Not sure if this is the right category to post new thread. I want to share an experience with a hen that went from outcast to top hen. The other hens all bullied her so much that she would hide. When outcast became broody and sat on the wooden eggs they still gave her a hard time, but she would not leave the wooden eggs. She would hide her head under the rim of the nest to prevent injury. I slipped the incubator babies and their broken shells under her one night. The next morning she was sitting straight up in her nest (proud as ever). One of her bullies came close to and tried to fight her but received a volley of pecks hard enough to draw blood. 2 days later momma hen was out of the, nest teaching the chicks to eat and drink. The other hens for whatever reason were up on the roost far away from momma and babies, while they ate and drank peacefully. I did separate the brood to an old dog house. My whole flock is free range, they still avoid mom and babies. 
