At what age should you let your chicks/chickens free range?

[gritsar]

I started letting mine out at about 2 1/2 weeks, with constant supervision. As they grew I became more comfortable with leaving them unsupervised for longer and longer periods of time until we reached the point where I was checking on them a few times a day and they were happy going wherever they felt like going. It was a natural progression and it worked.

 

[Zoopathy]

Quote:
Eleventy billion is a LOT! LOL!

Mine are nearly four weeks old and I let the five of them run around on their own in the backyard when I'm home. Yard is fenced, and cat doesn't care about them. Hawks are really my only concern.

 

[1acrefarm]

My 7 week olds free range daily and I would let them do so if they were 1/4th that age.

 

[Judy]

My broody/mama is part of my free range flock (I have two,) and I turn her and her chicks loose when they hatch.

I let them free range -- but she doesn't! She keeps them close to the coop, or between the coop and the house, or at the edge of the lawn (read, mowed weeds/grass between house and field/trees.) They're about 3 weeks now. She's gradually been taking them further from the coop. The others go off in the woods or wherever (they could leave the county if they wanted.) They gather together at times during the day, esp. at treat time.

I have 4 dogs and a cat, who I guess you could also say free range, but they do not leave our property. The cat is afraid of the chickens, though she teases them a little. The dogs ignore them, but chase off fox, coon, other dogs, etc. They also hunt and eat rats, mice and moles.

 

[JGreifzu]

We have a new batch of chickies. they hatched between the 22nd of June and the 30th. The four that hatched earlier have been free ranging since they were about 2 days old. they just learned to go to bed on their own about 3 days ago. the two who hatched the 29th and 30th we have in our house and i am debating letting them out tomorrow to meet their siblings.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
My free rangers (4 plus chicks) eat so little feed that I have been buying it in 10# bags at the grocery store, and this still lasts over a month. Even in the winter. I offer them grit and oyster shell and it sits there. They won't even eat half the treats I offer, they are so picky. Guess we have lots of delicious bugs.

 

[barngem]

My chicks seem to get bigger every time they have a day outside to free range. They are just 5 weeks. I swear the first day they were out they doubled in size. Mine are in a small enclosure that keeps them from getting lost or in the road but it gets moved around the yard all day. That gives me comfort and them the feeling of free range.

Quote:
No self respecting barn cat or house cat would kill a chicken

Thats what mine say anyway

My male cat has taken it upon himself to sleep on top of the chicken coop and keep watch over the chickens all day and night.
When I let them out my rooster and cat sniff noses kinda funny.