Broody hen and 8 chicks outside of coop

[nc farm]

One of our gray hens went missing and we thought a predator got ahold of her. This morning, we discovered her in our front yard with 8 baby chicks. They are all outside of the chicken run. Our chickens are free range, so while the other chickens can get to this broody hen and her chicks, the chicks will not be able to enter the chicken run unless we leave gates open and hope they can find their way in. Is it best to try to move mama and babies into the chicken run or just let nature take its course?

 

[sourland]

If you allow nature to take its course, they will most likely be eaten by predators.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Put her in the pen unless you want the chicks and possibly her to be picked off 1 by 1

 

[nc farm]

@sourland @JacinLarkwell We have mama and chicks coraled in a portable dog crate but they all skatter when we go out there. The holes in the crate are too big so the chicks run out. We put a smaller crate inside the larger one, hoping they will all go in the smaller one. There is straw in the smaller crate. Will they be easier to move at dusk? Hoping if we just wait a bit, mama will bring the chicks in the small crate where we can then close the door and move them all safely to the brooder coop. Thank you for your advice!