How do you know when a hen has gone truly broody and not just pract.

I have a blk Orpington girl, around 8 months old, and over the last couple of days, shes on again off again, When I went out to check for eggs she was sitting on about 8 eggs , when I went to get them she was all fluffed up and started laying flat on the eggs and purring or growling at me one of the two. so I left her with about 3 eggs when I went to check for the evening eggs she was not on the nest but when I went to get the eggs she ran over and was trying to climb in the nest chattering all the time. so I left the 3 eggs with her. when I went to go lock up the coop she was roosting in her usual spot. She has done this several times, what is the deal with her is she just practicing or what. Never had a broody yet so I don't really know whats up with her. Thanks Sandy

 

Thanks for the replies, Maybe she was just practicing then, Never seen her act like that before so was just wondering. Do the hens just all the sudden go broody or do they lead up to it? thanks again everybody.

 

Quote:I meant that she was just setting on the eggs and looking very serious about me not touching them, kinda growling and being all fluffed up and laying down hard on the eggs to keep my hands out. I just used the term practicing(for lack of a better term) because when a few of the girls got ready to lay eggs i would see them sit in the nest box and act like they were going to lay , turning this way and that and readjusting the nest to suit them and then nothing just like they were practicing. So thats what I was just calling it then. Sorry about the confusion. And BTW back to her old self today, so I don't know what was up with her.