hens randomly going broody and then stopping

[babychickens321]

I have 2 nearly 5 month old pekin bantam pullets
they are laying eggs and randomly go broody - they sit on the egg and start hissing and pecking my hand if I try and get the egg from under them but literally 10 MINUTES LATER they're off the egg and couldn't care less about it. they do it really randomly like one day they lay the egg and decide to go broody for 10 minutes then after when I come out with food or when they feel like it they get off the egg and out in the garden to free range with the others and just leave the egg
why are they getting broody so randomly and then stop getting broody like a few minutes later

 

[sourland]

It doesn't sound as if they are really broody. Many hens will peck and complain when their eggs are taken away.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That is not broody. Hens laying an egg will often protect their nest. Being broody is when they spend the night on the nest instead of where they typically sleep.

 

[babychickens321]

oh wow thanks! I had no idea