baby chicks vs free range chicks

[dollychick]

I want to buy some baby chicks.But where I live there are some free range hens and roos.
question is If I raise mine close and coop them for a while then let them free range,
will mine come home at night or will they go with the other crowd?
In the picture I sheltered that hen and now she comes close to get food.
But I dont think she will let me touch her..

 

[Fierlin1182]

They should come home once they're used to sleeping in a certain place each night. You might have to physically put them back in the coop for a while each night to get them into the habit. But after that, they usually work out where they're meant to be going.
Some people do worry about illnesses spreading between different flocks though.

If you can, I always say go for free ranging! We free range our chickens.

 

[dollychick]

thank you I just dont want them to leave after we put in all the work and watching them grow..

 

[Fierlin1182]

Yep, understandable.I don't know how it would go with a large area, but in my garden, my chickens return to the coop every night by themselves.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

As long as you keep feeding them they will come home, the flocks don't integrate easily once established. YOu may acquire a roo if yours are all hens. good luck