Birds are in new coop: When to let the out to free range?

[Hoytman]

I just moved my birds from my garage and from their way too small coop to a new covered coop/run. They've been in the new coop about 4 days now.

I am new to raising chickens and was wondering how long I need to leave these birds in their new coop before I can let them out to free range? Do I need to alter their feed schedule/patterns? Birds currently have access to feed 24/7 in their coop.

I'm wanting to know how long before they'll go back in their coop on their own before dark.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Well, I think once they know where and what their home is, they can free range. Just have water and food always available, put some waterers around the yard but probably only the one feeder in the coop.

 

[aart]

I just moved my birds from my garage and from their way too small coop to a new covered coop/run. They've been in the new coop about 4 days now.

I am new to raising chickens and was wondering how long I need to leave these birds in their new coop before I can let them out to free range? Do I need to alter their feed schedule/patterns? Birds currently have access to feed 24/7 in their coop.

I'm wanting to know how long before they'll go back in their coop on their own before dark.

I'd leave them in new coop a full week at least.
Is there a run too?

Make sure access to the old coop is blocked, or they may go back there.
Start your ranging again late in the day, an hour before roost time.

 

[Hoytman]

My birds have been in their new coop/run, which is covered coop/run with one block wall and three hardware cloth covered walls. They've been in there since Oct. 4 to Oct. 23.

By this coming weekend I am hoping to have the fence up for their outside run so that we can begin to let them out daily while we are home.

I assume, by them being in the coop this long, that we could free range them with no fence an hour or so before dark until we get the fence up?

I would think they would return to their coop just fine before dark, but wanted some opinions.

 

[Hoytman]

Also,
Just so folks understand, this coop/run is an open air coop/run with a roof over it. It was part of a shed overhang that used to be a dog kennel, so it has a gable shingled roof. The walls of my coop/run are treated 2"x4"x6' walls with hardware cloth, and I made panels that are wire covered as well that form a wire covered roof...all covered by the shingled overhang. So, my birds have wire protection overhead as well.

We just put in the nesting boxes the other day in anticipation of eggs soon. Those boxes are 16" off of the ground. My roosting bar is actually lower for the time being, and I plan to move it higher soon. However, the birds only use it during the day and they've actually been sleeping on the run floor, which is concrete covered with pine shavings. My coop/run is 11'x11'x6.5'...at the moment. It is looking like I am going to have to build them a box...as a place to sleep...within the coop/run to try and get them off of the floor.

Part of this run has a 2'x4' dog box that I left in the coop/run that is almost 20" off of the floor. Every night all 17 birds gather closely together under that 2'x4' area because their head is covered. I know it's not for warmth, because when it was 80 degrees out they went there as well. So, I thought I'd build them a small sleeping coop within the coop/run and elevate it to the top of the 6' walls...making it 3'Dx6'Lx'3'H and approximately 2ft. plus off of the floor. I'll give them a ramp to get in...and hopefully they'll begin to use it before it gets too cold.

We just completely covered 2 walls with plastic with a 2ft.sq. area I can roll up for ventilation. The entire south wall and roof are open. So that will give them protection from the wind while allowing plenty of ventilation.

One question I have is: Should I attach my nesting boxes to the sleeping quarters/coop within a coop...LOL..., or can I leave the nesting boxes along the block wall...several feet away from their where I plan to build their sleeping quarters? I have no idea what time of day the chickens will lay their eggs...I assume early morning perhaps?

 

[Ridgerunner]

They are living animals so no one can guarantee behaviors but by all means, they should be ready.

I don't know how old they are or what your coop looks like. I find that relatively young chicks less than maybe 10 to 12 weeks old tend to sleep on the ground beneath an elevated coop instead of going inside at night. You may need to lock them in the coop at night for a few times. As long as it is dark they should be easy to catch. With coops on the ground that is generally not an issue. In any case they should want to go back to that coop area as it gets close to dark.

A reason to be down there as they are returning to the coop. That instinct to get back there as dark is approaching is very strong but they sometimes have a problem with the concept of "gate" or "walk around". Even though they may have used that gate a few times during the day, when they get desperate to return home they may bump against a fence and not realize hey need to follow the fence for 10' to get to the gate where they can go home.

I see you posted while I was typing, I don't expect you to have any problems.

As to the nests. I've had chicken slay at daybreak. I've had chickens lay as it is starting to get dark. The nests need to be available to them any time they are awake. Other than that, I don't know that it matters.

 

[Hoytman]

Birds will be 5 months November 11. Just moved them Oct. 4th from very small 4'x8'x'2 coop...where they stayed 24/7. That won't happen again with that many birds, but they seem fine in their 11'x11'x6' coop/run where they've been locked up 24/7 since Oct. 4th. Still, more crowded than I like, but it won't be so bad when I get their outside run finished...simple fencing in the yard. They have plenty of daytime roosting spots, so there's not too many birds on the ground at any given time during the day. As soon as I get the fence up for their outside run, they'll in that during the day when I am home. The plan is come spring, to use the walls I built (made removable panels) and move them to another spot on the property and build more panels for a much larger coop. Plus, I will then account for chicken math as well...LOL. Currently 16 layers and 1 rooster...and will build in spring to have plenty of extra room even for 30 layers. That's likely as many as I can handle on this property...not counting a chicken tractor for fryers if I decide to do that too...which is still in the air. I may just forget that idea and freeze my layers when they become less productive.

 

[Chick-N-Daddy]

I'm a Chick-N-oob too but got my gals out at 5 weeks or so. Temps drop to 36 at night pretty consistently now, and freezing overnite temps are coming fast. The first night out, I spent a few hours during the day playing with em and getting em used to coming and goin. At nightfall I gathered em up and locked em in the roost. Next day, they beat me to it. They'd been out in the uncovered run for hours and as night approached they were already in the roost purring/trilling away happily. They're clearly better Chick-N-Daddies than I am.