My brother showed me a nest in his horse field 3 weeks ago. Just in a nettle patchwas a hen sitting on eggs....she allowed him to lift her from the nest and see the eggs
She would not move!
One week later he took the video camera down and she was really protective this time and had a good few pecks at his hand
but again allowed him to ease her off the nest to show half a dozen chicks had already hatched and other eggs hatching.
I have never seen a bird allow contact like that before. They are all away now and can be seen regularly.