Is my hen broody or just acting strangely??

[Moolie]

Hi all! I have a blue maran hen called Pappy. She's not sitting on any eggs (like a normal brood) but will constantly walk in and out of the nesting area. I know she's not egg bound as she's still laying normally but as far as I know she spends the whole day walking in and out the pen. I know that she definitely isn't sitting as the eggs are never warm. The other day my speckled maran called Speckles went broody so I gave her a clutch of 6 fertile eggs to sit on. Unfortunately I do not have another pen as of yet so she is still in with the other chickens, plus she won't sit if it's a different nest to the one she's on! I can tell that Pappy is not happy and will attack speckles when she tries to return to her nest after leaving to eat.

Firstly does anyone know what's wrong with Pappy, and secondly is there anything I can do to stop her from attacking and preventing Speckles from sitting?? Any help will be very much appreciated

 

[TwoCrows]

I have a few hens that are always curious of other hens in the nesting boxes, especially if they just layed one of their eggs in the box. They too will follow other hens into the coop to see what they are up to with their eggs. Do you have two or more boxes? If you are unable to move the broody, maybe you could hang a curtain in front of her box so that she has a bit more privacy and maybe Pappy would be less likely to bother the broody. You could separate Pappy for a while in her own area for a day or so and maybe break her habit of bothering broodies.

Sounds like a difficult issue you have going. Good luck with your hens!

Oh and

 

[Moolie]

Thanks for the advice, sorry it's been a while since I replied been busy with work! Yeah i have two nest boxes although for some reason they will only like to nest in one of them! Thanks the curtain idea worked well and I managed to move Specks into the chick pen 3 days before they were due, everything went smoothly. Am now the happy owner of two baby chicks, hatched yesterday Although only 2 out of 4 hatched, am very happy with the result, and so is momma hen! Pappy is still the inquisitive little devil but had laid off a bit now!
Thank you for the advice