Can a hen claim a nesting box for her own personal laying?

[DianaMallory]

3 Days in a row now I have started finding a broken egg in one of the nesting boxes towards the front of it. This morning I had one hen just squawking up a storm like she was trying to tell on someone. I filled the water dishes in the run and she continued and finally went inside the coop. I decided to see what she was carrying on about and she had just got in a box and was pecking at an egg beneath her, like she was trying to move it out of her way. Like it didn't belong there. I reach in took the egg and she stopped and sat to lay.
Do or can a hen get possessive, not wanting anyone else to use her box? I have 8 nesting boxes and 11 hens. It is the same box I keep finding the broken eggs in.

 

[bargain]

Yes they can!!!! Be careful that you have a lot of straw hay and if she's pecking at an egg, she may be an egg eater!!!!

 

[DianaMallory]

Thank you but I caught her in the act yesterday~! She was trying to move an egg from under her. I quickly grabbed the egg and this morning no problems! I really do feel she was trying to claim that nest for herself.

 

[chfite]

I don't know how they do it, but I have had hens move eggs from box to box.

Chris

 

[DianaMallory]

I have one that just started laying and we keep finding her eggs in the sand on the floor of the coop. This morning it was under were they roost at. I just wonder if she is laying her eggs when she roost. The reason I know she just started laying is because the eggs we are getting off the floor are smaller than everyone else.