Older NH Red was roosting, now sleeps in next box?

[Arkonbey]

We have two NH Reds which I believe are older than the rest of the flock (which we took over for a friend.) The last few nights the smaller of the two has taken to sleeping in the nesting boxes, usually one with a nest egg in it. I am also fairly certain that she is one who has been laying weak-shelled eggs.
Her eggs have been getting stronger now that (ironically?) we've been keeping the flock in their run and not letting them free range.

I'll try blocking off the nesting boxes tomorrow night to see if that helps, but I thought I'd put the word out there to see if anyone had any ideas.

I thought maybe she'd just gone broody, but we're new to chickens and there is no rooster, so perhaps she's just being weird.

Thanks!

 

[Judy]

Being broody has nothing to do with the presence of a rooster, or whether the egg is fertile. They will brood golf balls or even air. But if she is broody she should stay on the nest essentially 24/7, usually getting off only once a day for a few minutes to eat, etc. Also she will poop once a day and it will be large and particularly stinky.

Maybe she has a sore foot or leg or hip. Maybe she is being bullied off the roost. Maybe she is really just a loner -- I have one like this, who has never hung with the group and often sleeps somewhere besides the roost. I figure if they don't sleep in the nest box (which leads to poopy eggs) I'll pretty much let them sleep where they want.

 

[Arkonbey]

Hi Flockwatcher, thanks for the reply! I've been away from the computer for a bit, forgot to check back.

Since we''re gone most of the day, it's hard to tell if she's in there 24/7. We've been blocking off the nesting boxes the past two nights and she's hopped up on the perch no problem. Come morning though, she's right back in place.
She does come out for treats and food.
Also, someone is still laying the occasional weak egg, as evidenced by a wet yolky spot in the nest today. Perhaps it's her, or perhaps she's just the one squashing it. She is most definitely the one pooping on them. Had to toss an otherwise lovely egg yesterday as it was crowned with a giant glob. Yech.
I'll repost this in the broody section too.