My current female has taken our two rescues under her wing

When I first brought the two, 1-week old rescues home, my (intact) female (Vader) wanted nothing to do with them.  We had them for about three weeks now, and last night Vader suddenly decided she was going to be mom!

She started by just letting them come near her, then it went into full on mama mode.  She has been grooming them, licking their bottoms to make them pee and poop (thank goodness for that one, in my mind!), and being extremely protective.  When we tried to separate them last night (as we were putting the kittens to bed), she even started growling at my fiancé, clawing desperately to get back to them.

Is this ok?  Should I continue to let her play mom to these two?  Also, they are getting to that age when they're going to start being weaned anyway, will she start lactating anyway?  To what extent do I let this go on?  Do I need to do anything different for Vader?

Because the kittens are now up and about and moving and grooving, my fiancé and I are going to set up a bedroom all to themselves...Will it be ok to just let them have free reign all together?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

That is definitely OK, in fact it is absolutely wonderful, as long as she is healthy and is not going out and picking up germs or parasites that she might bring back to them,   and as long as she still  allows you to take them to feed them  --- unless she just spontaneously starts lactating  which I have heard of happening  but I don't know how common that is.

 They might "nurse" on her for comfort even if no milk is coming out,  and she would probably allow them to do that.  

If you think she did start lactating,   I would weigh the kittens daily to make sure they're putting on at least 10-15 grams a day,  don't just assume they are getting enough.    They will probably cry if they are hungry.  but the best way to monitor this is to weigh them . 

IF it turns out she is feeding them,  let her do it.  If she ends up supplying all their needs, then you need to increase her food up to 1.5 to 2 times  her usual amount.  ( It would be  more if it were a bigger litter)  I would not feed her more than that.   

 

But there's a good chance you will need to keep bottle feeding them.  which you can do within her sight as long as she cooperates. 

If they're about 4 weeks now, they may be able to start eating some pate style kitten food   or an "all life stages" food.  I feed kittens mostly the Merrick  paté and switch between chicken, turkey and  duck..    Then  as they start eating more, you can feed less formula. 

If Vader does start lactating and they are nursing,  she will decide on the schedule of weaning.  you just provide the food so they can have that.   and what normally happens is the queen just starts letting them nurse less often.   but  you can kind of push things along by separating them for several hours a day.  not yet but if they are being slow about it you can start doing that in a few weeks.   

Yes it is great to just set up a room for Vader and "her" 2 kittens together.  They will likely turn out to be   better adjusted,  better behaved cats by learning from her. 

  Is there any reason why you haven't had Ms. Vader spayed yet?    Just asking;  for all I know maybe she is a pedigreed, health-tested, titled queen with breeding rights and part of a well-thought out program to preserve a breed.    If not it would be better to spay.  Not that I don't love moggies too but there are so many of them homeless already.   and there are health risks to keeping a queen intact without breeding her .