How to get broody with chicks to adopt new home?

[78753]

Our chickens started free-ranging (including nights) a year ago after a snake scared them off from the coop. A year later a predator picked them off systematically until there was only one hen left, who went broody and hatched eggs atop a stackable washer-dryer.
Three days later, after three chicks hatched she abandoned the remaining 3 eggs and decided to take her family out. The boxes we'd positioned caught two of the babies. The other took a wrong turn and fell into the wall-my husband had to cut a hole in our kitchen wall to get it out!

So now we have mama chicken and her three chicks living in the shower. Can we put them out in the coop with mama at this age, and if we do, how do we get her to consider it home? How many days should we keep her in before letting her out during the day?

 

[Vicky2479]

If your coop is now predator safe, with plenty of day light and a spot for her nest with her babies, I would put them in and keep the door closed for a few days then you could let them out so long as the chicks will be able to get back in. I am not an expert by any means but that is what I would do, mum should be able to keep them plenty warm enough, however she won't be able to protect them from and determined predators so make sure they are safe.

 

[78753]

good. We're keeping them in a dog crate for a couple days while she gets used to her chicks. She's a very nervous hen (mom was half game hen). W'll try the three days cooped. May crate them at night, though till the babies are a bit bigger. They're sooo tiny.