Chicks in the hedge - help please!

[Valerie47]

My golden phoenix hen, Josephine, has been missing from the chicken coop for a while, although she has put in an occasional appearance in the garden. I suspected she may have been sitting on eggs somewhere in the very thick hedge surrounding our garden and sure enough she has just reappeared with 5 chicks. Shortly after she went back into the hedge with the chicks, I can see her in there with the chicks under her wings. They all seem fine, and the chicks seem to my inexpert eyes to be some days old, but I wonder should I try to catch them all and put them in the chicken coop and feed them chick food? I am inclined to do nothing as Josephine seems to be managing just fine but I would appreciate some advice.
Thanks from SW France.

 

[Joy1]

I think they would probably be safer in the coup.

 

[Valerie47]

Thanks Joy. Do you think the chicks are likely to be accepted by the others? And do you think their mother will stay in the coop with them?

 

[Valerie47]

I really would appreciate more advice - please????

 

[rodandbrandy]

I have 2 hens with babies that I had kept seperated, after about a week I put them in with 20 other layers and 1 roo, all is going well, the moms are very protective as is the roo, but honestly the other chickens could care less, I was so worried to put them together but I guess they know what their doing!

 

[Joy1]

They will follow mum round , just give them

some chick starter food to help them along.Let me know how they get on.

 

[Valerie47]

Mum and chicks went into the coop by themselves - I went out there armed with hen-catching stuff prepared to root around in the very thick hedge, they were nowhere to be seen. I went into the coop and there they were. I've given them some chick feed so all is well. Thanks for your advice!