Pseudo-broody?

[Shrader]

Two of my black australorps have gone broody within the past couple months.
I've put fertile eggs under both -- one has a chick, the other is a week away from hatching.
Yesterday, I thought hen number 3 was broody -- she had all the signs:
--She was sitting in the nest when I went to gather the eggs, and she made that broody squawk.
--Her breast is completely bald.
All excited, I started hunting for the kind of fertile eggs I was going to put under her.
Then she hopped out of the nest and hasn't gone back.
Today, she's still wandering around the yard.
Is she broody or not?
Even though she has the classic signs, could it be something else?
I don't want to buy some fertile eggs and have her not sit on them.
Thanks.

 

[SpottedCrow]

She could've been working up to being broody...give her a bit of time and she may actually become broody.

 

[Mike L]

Hi all. So I have an australorp that’s just sitting in one nest going on a few weeks and I keep tossing her out. She scratches a little and soon as I head out she goes back. I’m getting her a cage tomorrow. My question is about the balding? I did notice some missing feathers on her back. Is this normal for a broody? Or I wondered if she’s just being bullied. I found a little pile of feathers at the coop door which is four feet from her spot. Not even sure if they are hers as they look more like wing or tail feathers. Somebody else might have been scrapping, lol. She lives with theee other austras, a pair of light brhamas and five Sicilian buttercups. One of those Italians is kind of acting a bit broody as well but she does get out to roam some. Thanks

 

[aart]

My question is about the balding? I did notice some missing feathers on her back. Is this normal for a broody?

Not in my experience.
Broodies can 'act weird' which can attract pecking.