Usually I wait to call them broody until I'm sure that they are going to stick (well, as much as you can be sure). I had a RIR two years ago that went broody, it is unusual but not unheard of for RIRs to brood. Unfortunately, she left the nest at day 15 and then never brooded again. Her behavior is certainly broody-like.How does one know if their hen is broody? One of my RIR was in a nest (the secluded corner under the nest boxes where I don't like them laying, but they all do anyway!) when I went to check the nest boxes around 5:30 pm. She was very upset at my presence, got up but didn't leave the coop, and sqawked VERY loudly at me until I moved away. She them promptly returned to her nest. Does this seem like broody behavior to you? It does not seem normal to me!