Feral cat kittens in my yard

A feral cat had 5 kittens in my yard. We don't know how old they are but want to keep one or two and others want some as well. How do I know when I can take them from the site mother has put them? (An ashy fireplace.) 2nd, how can we tell if queen is still nurturing them? She runs away when we walk out

If you get too close, she will move them. I would feed her and try to gain her trust before messing with the kittens. Food right now is a big thing for her, and the kittens would come closer with food enticing them too.They need human contact as soon as possible, I've had day old kittens hiss at me, they know something isn't right at a very young age! She will teach them to be afraid, so you need to make her not as afraid first. Then when the kittens open their eyes they need to see humans aren't so bad. Good luck and keep us posted!

I put water and food out that she been devourIng. We had picked them up first moment we saw them and they loved us. Even crawled towards our feet. This morning I went to refill her water and food and noticed one of the kittens were missing. she mIght be starting to relocate them. I believe she may have a home down the road along with 10 other neighborhood cats but they never go in.

They look like they are big enough to adopt from mom. 5wks-ish? If they have little teeth they could eat kitten food at this point as opposed to Mom's milk. You take feral kittens earlier than domestic ones as they need to learn to trust people and not pick up their mother's fear of them. Would be good to take all or at least 2 so they can learn kitty manners from each other like not biting.... Harder for a human to teach well. Aya was a lonely only and has occasional nipping issues...

Kittens with a domesticated mother best to leave until 8-12wks with 12 being ideal, but these guys are not in a safe place outside and if Mom is feral best to take them. Can you TNR her?

I second LyraJean.  As you do have fostering waiting, and adoptions homes lined up, take them now, at 5-6 weeks.  Dont wait any longer.

This is the best gift you can give now them kittens and theirs mom (I mean, dont have bad conscience when she mourns them and seeks after them.).

And if you can, help mom by TNR-ing her.   If she is at all fosterable, it will get easier after the spaying.