At what age should we start to let our chicks start to free-range?

[macdonaldfamily]

First-time chick owner here At what age is it safe to start letting our flock of 11 start to free-range? And how will they know what to look for?

 

[mrsc1951]

I bought day old chicks to put under my bantam EE who was broody. Since I don't have a roo, she could have sat on those eggs forever and nothing would have happened. It did not go as planned and she kicked the babies out of the nest so I was the chicken mama. I let them out on their second day and those are the best foragers I have. For obvious reasons, they were only allowed in a very small fenced area at first but by the time they were about 4-5 weeks old they were hanging out with my older girls.

 

[chfite]

I would wait until they are fully feathered, but it may not matter. Chickens are natural foragers. Turn them loose and watch.

Chris

 

[Greenwood Farm]

Hi there...

I have 2 ISA browns 10 weeks, and 2 Austalorps 7 weeks. They were introduced while still in the brooder and moved together into their big new coop together about 3 weeks ago. All had their main feathers but the little ones still had some 'bum fluff' (so cute). I've kept them cooped up together there for 2 weeks to monitor weather, predators and their behavior in general. I noticed they were getting bored so I decided to let them out for small 'outings' for an hour at a time just before I lured them back to the coop with some tuck in treat broccoli! I then locked them back up and they put themselves to bed. I'd suggest just extending the girls time for their outings. I'm up to a few hours a day now with regular checks for squawking arial predators. If I can't commit to visiting and sitting with them for an hour or two (if I'm busy running errands or ill) then I leave them locked up. Better that they are bored stuck in their coop than dead from an attack! God luck and I hope that helps.