Once broody always broody? Or not?

[Mrs. Mucket]

Is broodiness a lifelong tendency? Just curious, as one of our 23-week-old Buff Orpingtons is sitting on one or more eggs almost every morning. After I take the eggs she returns and sits on nothing and there's no egg later so I don't think she's waiting to lay. We don't want any new chicks till spring but I'm wondering if she's likely to be a good brooder when the time comes? I do see her out with the other girls in the afternoon, so at least she is not pining away on an empty nest all day.

 

[rebbetzin]

My Buff Orpington, Ophelia, of blessed memory. Was CONSTANTLY going broody!! I wish now I had gotten her some fertile eggs to hatch!

I'd say in the two years she was alive, she had at least 4 or 5 times of "Broodiness"

 

[monathequeen]

I had two hens who were broody all summer. The other 6 weren't.
I have hens who just want to sit in the box for no other reason. Just to be away from it all I figured.
If they're just hiding out from everyone like I said earlier....chickens are funny that way.