raising Bantam chicks

My first Batch of chicks were abandoned by their Mother after five weeks, she would fly out of their enclosure and call to the chicks to come out. The advice I was given at the time by an expert was to keep them separate for up to eighteen weeks. from the rest of the flock. when they were big enough, not 18 wk's I let them out , they were fine with that, but their mother now attacked them, at any opportunity.
the second batch of chicks, are growing nicely only four this time, as they were getting bigger and able to fly,  their mother kept calling them to come out, and feed.

I had a rethink on the whole situation. I have seen hens with chicks, that is five wk's and older out with the hen, so not wanting the mother to abandon them I let them all out. It is now a totally natural situation , with mother guiding them round showing them how its done. she is very protective of her brood, and the first batch stay away from her, I just wish I had let the first lot out, with their mother, to avoid any friction within the pack.

I now have a total of 13 bantams, with senior mum sitting on another three eggs.
to those of you that remember my original posts.

Rastus the Bearded Boot leg  Bantam Cockerel, I am afraid he is no longer with us, He was causing me too many problems, nearly crowing continuously, which did not go down well, you could hear him 100yd's away. also he was alienating, the other hens from me.
 he would see me and do a runner, taking the hens with him, causing a commotion.  I had had problems with him attacking me when I fed the hens their corn or feed,  I tried to mend his ways to to no avail.             RIP Rastus

Aww, R.I.P Rastus tje Bearded Boot Leg.