Depends on if the hen is a hen that goes broody or not, my RIR goes broody for 8 days a year after laying 6 eggs a week every week except moult (about 48 weeks a year she's on year three of that). My silkie cross GLW are always broody and might lay 7 eggs a year. (and those are tiny eggs but she can cover 12 at a time) My EE go broody once a year. (in spring) My rescue mutts go broody four times a year. (randomly) My mutts never go broody, but I picked out the mating for that.
I only have 1 broody hen right now. The rest have never been broody. Some breeds are broodier than others. If you're planning on hatching eggs it would be easier to get a incubator because you don't know if your hen will stay broody until hatch day.
