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Hmmm. My girls are always clearly broody when they get a brood patch, but it might not always be necessary? See post #2 here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/brood-patch-but-hen-isnt-broody.1316629/

Has she been broody? Hens will pull out the feathers from their belly when they are brooding because they interfere with heat transfer to the eggs. It's easy to miss if you don't often examine them closely and it will stay bare until her next molt.