I use plastic pet carriers as nest boxes. When a hen goes broody I can easily move the hen and nest to a separate area in the coop about 3 days before the anticipated hatch. The hen and chicks have their own space, food and water. After a couple of days, or longer depending on the weather, the hen and chicks go into an outside daytime pen. Over night, they continue to have a separate area in the coop. I try to keep this up for at least a couple of weeks, or until it seems the little family can be merged with the rest of the flock.
In the past, this has worked well for me. However a young hen with her first hatchling recently had other ideas. She hatched one chick and doted on it for about three weeks. Then she disowned it, and even pecked at it. The mother hen rejoined the flock and wants nothing to do with the little one. It is warm here so I haven't needed to use a brooder, but do keep the chick separate.
