I have a bantam cochin/silkie cross broody with a clutch that is due to hatch tomorrow or Monday. I have kept her within the flock. I have a board that I put across her nest box to stop other hens laying in there. She can get out even with the board in place if she really, really wants to but there is no way other hens could get in. Once a day I remove the board and within a few minutes, she comes out, has a poop, something to eat and a dust bath and then goes back. I am therefore able to supervise her broody break and ensure that she goes back to the right nest and I make sure that hers is the only one with eggs in, by collecting the eggs from the other nests whilst she is out, so that she selects right nest when she comes back. Whilst she is off the nest I replace the board for the 10-20 mins she is out and as soon as she heads back to the nest I open it up and she climbs in and then I place the board back. It's all so really simple and she is very happy with the arrangement. Broody stays as part of the flock, but none of the hens can interfere with her or her nest. She gets lots of dark quiet time on her eggs and when I remove the board, the increased light stimulates her to have a broody break. It works like a treat and I really can't understand why other people allow their other hens to mess with their broody's nest and lay eggs in it..... to me that's not fair to her.They like peace and quiet and dim lighting, not hens climbing on top of them.to lay eggs.
I haven't candled the eggs this time. She is on 7, so it will be a surprise to see if/what she hatches.... this is her second clutch and her first one last year was very successful. I have doubts about the fertility of 3, just because I haven't seen any "action" between the cockerels and those hens but we'll see. Good luck to everyone else awaiting Easter chicks.
Regards
Barbara