Mama Hen Gave Up?

[NorthernHomestead]

One of our new laying hens snuck off to be broody shortly after she started laying (we didn't notice - there were many, many new girls that hatched out in late January). She showed up one day with four babies. One died within the first week (I think the eggs were just too small to yield strong babies - the other three were really small and it's a miracle that they're okay). We set her up in a milk crate in the coop for older chickens (the younger ones seemed too wild to be an option).

Two weeks later mom leaves the coop all day without her babies. They're big enough to hop around and sit on the roosting bars and one surprised me by going outside with mama for a day last week. Now they just stay in the coop with all the older hens day in and out. Mama comes back at night but it seems like she's given up on motherhood. I make sure they have clean chick feed and water, but should I be worried that they aren't going out to forage or will they do it on their own eventually?

We have automatic doors and I check each night to make sure they're inside the coop.

 

[Yardmom]

As long as the chicks have access to food and water and temperatures are reasonable (humans don't require coats) the chicks will survive on their own like brooder chicks. Some chickens survive without ever foraging. Your chick will likely venture out in a few days or weeks depending on your setup.