TNR nursing queen. what to do ?

I care for a colony of 7 cats .. Recenty a new female ( about 1 year old) appeared in my yard and has been feeding and hanging out on my property for hours at a time I trapped her last night and took her to the Vet this morning . The Vet  just advised me that she is lactating and she should be released tonight so she can return to her nest.  Questions : 1) Should I try and follow her to hopefully find the nest  : 2) Is it normal for the mother to leave her kittens for housr at a time ? She was laying under a bush in my yard all day yesterday , do the kittens make any sounds ? and finally if it turns out the nest is under the bush how should I proceed ?

There is a very good chance she is/was in the later time of nursing her kittens, as they won't leave their actively nursing kits for so much time like this.

I sure do hope the vet spayed her, or it will be very difficult/impossible to retrap her now.

Sorry just re-read your post.

I would try to follow her to at least get an idea of where she is headed, which direction. If she is actively nursing young babies and not 8 week olds who she is tired of nursing but they just won't quit, she will go straight for them.

Just picked her up. Yes the Vet spayed her. Opened the trap and she took off. Tried to follow her, couldn't keep up as she went behind a neighbor's house. Checked my yard , no kittens. I hated to let her go so soon ,usually keep a female for a couple of days after being fixed. Not that she was "broken". BTW I've had great success trapping second timers using a commercial drop trap, although I feel like cross between Wile E. Coyote and Elmer Fudd it does work.

No I hear you there, I like to keep them a bit longer as well.

I also use a drop trap and can retrap, just didn't mention it as most say "what is that?!"  

You must do tnr'ing? Love it.

Only local. My neighborhood is overrun,several other people also TRN in area. Live in beach community, when beach clubs close for the season all the "new" ferals flood the area seeking food and winter shelter. So I trap as many as I can in both fall and spring , even if they don't live on the property In winter I have a bunch of ferlalvillas and kitty tubes to help them survive

Aww I love that! Thank you for being such a caring person

Thank you. Its been a tough day. I also trapped a second Tom not as recent newcomer "in tact". My bet not feral but stray. He showed up in late spring. Started feeding him. He allowed me to pet him instantly...purring away. He was extremely aggressive towards other cats and had noticeable health issues.. He tested positive FIV. Difficult decision but with the joy sometimes there is sorrow.

So sorry to hear that

I don't euthanize for fiv, especially in tame formerly owned cats.

While it takes a while, the do eventually get adopted and get the home and love they deserve.

Felv is another story though.

Rescuing, and tnr is very hard on a person emotionally. No doubt about that.........

I agree but it would have been impossible to properly care for him. And I have protect the colony since he was aggressive to the point where the other cats were too scared to eat.

Well the aggression makes it difficult, yes.

Sometimes it's due to not being neutered, but then once they are fixed, are used to life being this way, that they don't lose the aggression towards other cats too, and if there is a risk of him biting others, then it becomes unfair to all of them too.

Still so unfortunate too. 

Yes it is difficult to care and love them and not be able to touch them. When one comes along its special but it got bad..