Perhaps she is confused. I'm fairly certain she is laying, I'm regularly getting 3-4 eggs per day and all three of the orpingtons were my first layers, with the rest slowly joining the crowd. She sets in the corner of the nest box, puffed up like a marshmallow, clucks when I open the top of the box, and tries to peck me. Doesn't even come out for treats (scratch or kitchen scraps). If she's still there by mid-afternoon, I have 'escorted' her off the nest, there have been 1-2 eggs under her, and she runs off squawking. Acts a bit put-out but doesn't set down anywhere other than in the nest box. And, yes, I thought she was awful young to be broody, she's still a child. I'll just keep monitoring her.
Fairly sure I won't be trying the gunny sack trick, although I did get a chuckle out of the visual!
