PD-Riverman - Last year when she she went broody under our deck steps, I could not reach her, to put food and water near her, she was too far back. I had it about 5 feet away from her, guess she got up, because every afternoon the food & water were empty. But it could have been the other hens eating & drinking her food. I put it as close as I could, but then had to battle the hens who still wanted to lay their eggs near her. I tried to block it off, but the hens still found their way in. The only time she came out was when the snake came & ate all the eggs, and then she was nutty for a couple of days, trying to find the eggs that were taken.
Her first two hatches (2 years & 3 years ago), she was in my 3 ft x 5 ft broody house, I would leave the back door open, near where she was setting, and had to sit away from the door, in order to keep the other hens from going in to bother her. I kept out of her line of sight, so she would not see me, she never came out to poop, dust bath or eat grass. I would find her poop across from where she was nesting. 2 years ago, they only way I got her out, after the chicks had hatched, was to scoop her out. All the eggs had hatched, it was 3 days later. I brought her in with her chicks, and she clucked and fussed at them, and let them climb all over her. Everyday, I took her away from the chicks, so she could stretch her legs, and all she did was come back on the deck, wanting to be let in with her chicks. It took her two weeks to decide she was done, and move back to the coop. The chicks stayed in the house overnight for 6 weeks, then outside on the deck for another 3 weeks, till they were old enough to live in the 3 x 5 foot broody house. My husband wanted them moved earlier, and that is when a snake came in the coop and smothered two of the chicks, they were 2 months old.
4 years ago, I had 2 Buff Orph. go broody a week apart, I built them each their own broody house, out of a wooden pallet. Had their food and water in front of them, and left their door open for them during the day, after the first week of setting. Neither hen came out of their house, I blocked the run, so no other hens would bother them, but they never came out. One hatched 5 out of 6 eggs, and the other hatched 4 out of 5 eggs. They came out 3 days after their eggs hatched, but stayed close to their broody house. Both stayed with their chicks for 2 weeks, and then they were done, and went back with their flock. I have assisted with chicks too tired to hatch out, splayed feet/legs. I splinted 2 and in 24 hrs, they were right as rain, one is my rooster Cotton. I lost 1, it's little feet were too badly damaged. But that is life.
I take my cues from my hens, if they want to set, I let them set, if they want out, I let them out. I have only had 3 hens go broody in 4 years, and they all stayed put, and if that is what they want to do, I let them do it.
I am sorry if my keeping food & water close to my hen is not the way you do your hens. If that is how you roll, and if it works for you, good on ya. But please don't tell me my way is wrong, or I am not giving them a chance to move around. Been doing this the same way for 4 years, and hatched out happy chicks, except for the snake year. Everyone has their own way of doing.