Hahaha! Sneaky chickens! Yes they can move eggs from place to place. I had put ping pong balls in my nests to entice everyone to lay and when Smokey went broody last time she gathered them from each nest and put them in with her. I wouldn't have known how she did it if I hadn't watched her drop one and then pick it back up. She tucked it under her wing and hopped with it. I was impressed.
I wouldn't count on hatch date - Topsy's chicks were due yesterday but 2 of them hatched a day earlier. So the time frame of Day 17 to Day 25 is what we usually say for hatching. Hope they do hatch while you are there - but it's sometimes better if they hatch when you're not there, especially if you're like me and can't wait to see the babies! You don't want to take her off the nest or lift her up during that time as it can interfere with humidity and temps that she's regulating. You may be able to hear some of the chicks chirping in the shells. I could hear them and it was about 3 days before I saw them. So don't panic if they don't come out right away when you hear the chirps.
I wouldn't bother to close her off. Topsy had her last clutch on the floor of the coop and I worried about the same thing - but this time she's in the nest box and her 10 week old chick keeps getting in the box with them. So far the babies are fine. Of course I also believe in the "whatever happens happens" mindset and I don't interfere with hatching chicks. I suppose if I had spent hundreds of dollars on these eggs and they were my breeder flock I may approach it differently. But since this is just my backyard flock of egg layers - I let what happens happen.
Can't wait to see your pics!
Here's Smokey's last clutch of 2 marans. This was her 3rd hatch in 2012.
Here's a couple chicks showing from Topsy's current clutch of 4. This is Topsy's 3rd clutch this year.
