How fast can a hen become broody?

[ButteCA]

My hen is hiding in some weeds that are growing in the chicken yard. It’s weird usually they lay an egg and leave but she is laying on top of this egg and is breathing heavy. I wonder if I startled her while laying or if the egg was already there and she is sitting in it. She’s my most social hen and wasn’t like this yesterday. Can it be that sudden? Would she really try to hatch only one egg? Should I try to put more under her? I’m so confused. I wonder if she is still laying maybe and I just freaked her out by being in there and she will leave the egg when I leave. She was also my first hen to start laying this spring and I wonder if she wants to hatch something.

 

[JaeG]

Broodiness is hormonal. Once her body tells her she's laid enough eggs for a clutch she will start to sit on her chosen nest even if there's nothing there. They attach to a nest rather than the eggs, that's why moving a broody can be difficult if you want her to stay broody.

 

[ButteCA]

I think I just made her mad while she was laying she left already.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Chickens can act kind of broody for all sorts of reasons but if it doesn't last for days she's not broody. It's always just a waiting game. If they're on the nest for more than a day or two, they're broody.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

If she's sitting day and night, she's broody.
She was most likely just laying her egg.