How do I move a nest of new chicks and mom?

[Bandera Grassland]

One of my hens decided to set on eggs inside my nesting box. I decided to let her raise some chicks, so I picked out eggs from my favorite chickens and shoved them under her in the nest-box. They are beginning to hatch today and should continue for three or four more days. Now what do I do? The nest-box is mounted on the wall about three feet off the floor of the coop. There is no food or water in the nest box. How long should I let the chicks sit under mom and go without water? I'm tempted to pick up mom and place all unhatched eggs in a box and move them to an enclosed nursery area on the floor of the coop so the newly hatched chicks can get to food and water. I'm concerned if I move the unhatched eggs the mom might abandon setting on them or even break some. What is best?

 

[horsepowerhaven]

I'm in the exact same situation so someone please answer! My hen's eggs should start hatching next weekend while I'm out of town and have house sitters.
How will mom and the chicks get out of the nesting box when it is high off the ground? I tried moving my hen to a different coop and she just panicked.

 

[Mahonri]

I fill a pet carrier with shavings and at night I go out, put the eggs in first, then the chicks, then the mama, then I put a chick waterer and some chick starter up front and raised a little... I also put in some scratch and layer for mama. It's worked every time.

 

[Bandera Grassland]

Thank you. Night makes sense so it won't stress them so badly. How long can a chick go without water? I only counted one chick today and the hen is setting on about a dozen eggs. I left them both. Should I try to give the chick water in the morning? I prefer not to move the nest until a few more chicks have hatched. I know hatcheries ship day-old chicks and it frequently takes two days for delivery. Do the hatcheries give the newly hatched chicks any food or water before loading them into boxes for shipping?

 

[Bandera Grassland]

Okay, I left mine undisturbed to sleep last night, but went out at 6:00 this morning while it was still dark and moved them as you suggested. I think it worked. The Cubalaya mother did not put up a fuss and settled back down on the eggs as soon as I put her in the box. She only has one tiny black chick so far and I counted 16 more eggs. The ones placed on the outside of the nest did not feel warm, so they may not all hatch. I never could tell how many she had under there. I'm hopeful all the Australorp eggs I shoved under her hatch. My goal is to get some more brown egg layers. This first little chick because of its color, looks promising. I did not find any trace of the shell to know what color it hatched from. My next question is how do I learn to sex the chicks. I'll search old post and if I don't find my answer, I'll post a new topic.