Broody hen - question

[Johnchickens2]

Hi everyone,

I have a broody hen. She takes a break once a day.
I wanted to ask, does she go out about at the same time every day?
Or she goes out when she feels she needs to go?
Is it her decision or her instincts drive her out of the nest suddenly, and then "tell" her to return?

 

[nuthatched]

She gets up to eat, drink and poop, as she feels the need, then goes back to work.

 

[Battlepants]

In my very light experience with a broody, it looks to be somewhat random. Few days ago, I woke up at about 7 to let the chickens out and she was off the clutch, then today at the same time, on the clutch. I'm thinking she just waits until she really gets the urge to eat/drink/poop and whenever that time of day happens to be is irrelevant.

It might be worth dropping a trail camera in there to watch her, especially if you can get one that you can stream to your phone/computer.