How to start the process with a broody hen?

[sailrnest]

Back story:
I have raised chickens off and on for over 30 yrs but never had a Roo. So come to my point my hubby FINALLY agreed I could have a ROO! He no longer cares if Tom short for "Tom Cat" because he is catting around the girls cock-a-doodle-dooing when ever he wants.

Now I have a broody girl with fertile eggs for the first time EVER! I want to raise them outside in the coop with mama. The coop is 8x10 with the nesting boxes mounted to one wall about 2 1/2' off the ground, the outside run is 15x30 and the girls (and Tom) are let out to free range everyday around noon to sunset. Should I move her to the ground in a new box with sides big enough to keep future chicks in maybe 5-6" high? should I put food and water into the coop for her or expect er to go out everyday, should I enclose a section just for her and hopefully hatching chicks where they can be seen but keep Tom and the other girls away until chicks are feathered out?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I choose to put a dog crate in my coop and carefully move the nest and momma into the crate. I leave the crate open until close to hatch date so that momma has to leave to get food, water, and to poop. When it is close to hatch date, I move the food and water into the crate.
If you don’t have a crate, you could make a moveable chicken wire wall that blocks a portion of the coop off for momma and chicks.

 

[sailrnest]

I choose to put a dog crate in my coop and carefully move the nest and momma into the crate. I leave the crate open until close to hatch date so that momma has to leave to get food, water, and to poop. When it is close to hatch date, I move the food and water into the crate.
If you don’t have a crate, you could make a moveable chicken wire wall that blocks a portion of the coop off for momma and chicks.

Thank you