Eggs for Hatching

Yesterday I found this clutch of ten eggs out in the brush. The three blue ones are from my Americauna hen or one of her pullet offspring. For a week or more Princess has been acting very broody--staying on the nest long after she has laid an egg, and all the other features of broodiness. I've made a few half-hearted attempts to break the broodiness. Last night, as I have for several nights, I removed her from the nest when it was time to roost. I have been blocking nest entrance overnight. Then I thought of those eggs out in the brush, put them in a basket, and took them to he coop. I laid them all out in the nest, then placed Princess on the eggs. Immediately she looked pleased. The eggs were laid in a larger circle than she could cover, so she looked them over, then, with her beak, ootched one of them on under her warm body. She picked another and moved it, until she had them all in place. Then she eased down over them with a most content motherly look in her eyes. She is happy, and within three weeks or so, we will again be playing "baby chicks."