There are a lot of different signs that a hen might be broody, spending excessive time on the nest, walking around fluffed up and making a pucking sound, defending her nest, stop laying eggs, looking zoned out while on the nest, several different things. But I’ve had several hens that displayed some or even most of these and was not broody enough to deserve eggs.
Going broody is a hormone thing. Sometimes those hormones hit like a brick wall, but I’ve had hens that displayed most of the signs for two weeks before finally switching to full broody mode. I‘ve had some never fully switch and go back to not-broody mode.
I use CT’s method. If a hen spends two consecutive nights on the nest instead of roosting I’ll trust her with eggs. I’ve had some spend one night but not a second consecutive night. So two consecutive nights.
Something I’ve noticed, if you want her to go full broody, pretty much leave her alone the first night. Sometimes they are not totally sure that first night. If you toss them off the nest or scare her off the nest, she is less likely to go full broody than if you wait. But part of the two night test is to check under her or even remove her from the nest late the second day before the second night. If she goes back to the nest she is pretty well committed.
This means do not try to move her until after the second night on the nest. You want her fully committed before you try to move her.
