Being pushed out of a nest box can discourage the moderately broody types, especially if it is a hen that is on the lower end of the pecking order. Look for any hen that is constantly trying to stay in the nesting box and who is usually clogging the works up for the rest. That can definitely start box squabbles. She might be contemplating brooding but is disturbed by the more dominant hens pushing her from one box to another. Putting her in a quiet, isolated nest, with a fake or dud clutch of eggs might entice her to settle and brood....or not...she will need to have the genetic make up for the proper amount of hormones.
For those, it does depend on the type of chickens you have.
If you have commercial laying breeds such as Production Reds, Barred Rocks, Red Sexlinks, White Leghorns, it is very unusual that one of those will go broody as broodiness has been genetically selected out of them for the high egg production wanted by the hatcheries. It can happen, but it is uncommon. (If I have had a commercial broody, it has been with Black Sex Link).
Squabbling for nest boxes in those breeds is simply the pressure of pecking order over the "golden" box and the incessant need to lay.
If you have more "heritage" type or breeder quality breeds, then yes, broodiness can be present. My breeder quality Marans are very broody prone as were my Welsummer as is my Marans-Isbar. My larger fowl tend to brood seasonally (in spring/summer).
If you really want to consistently brood, year round, and regularly year after year, I recommend contacting a Silkie breeder. They almost always have a hen or two that is annoyingly broody, has hatched broods, but for one reason or another is not needed by the breeder (as in how many brooding Silkies can one keep). You typically get a hen that is not picture perfect for standard, but an excellent brooder and mother.
I wish you the best of luck in finding/obtaining a brooding hen. They are awesome. Once you get a successful broody, you will never go back to artificial hatching. My brooding queens are worth their weight in gold (Thank you currently to Rosie, bantam Cochin, Vivi, Buff Silkie, and Olive, Isbar-Marans...and all the Silkie queens over the years).
LofMc
