I let my little flock of pullets out to free-range for the first time this evening. We've had them about 3 1/2 weeks, and I'd been nervous about letting them out with so many predators in the woods around our house. So I let them out about an hour before they were due to roost. They swarmed out of the pen at first and headed for the woods! I almost panicked, but I remained in my lawn chair and watched them. After a few minutes they came back and ended up pecking around the grass within 10 - 15 feet of where I was sitting. One even ate some watermelon out of my hand.
I was worried about our cat - but after sniffing around a few minutes, he decided they were too big for him to mess with and he left to find a chipmunk, lizard, or mouse to terrorize.
Around 7:45ish they started heading back to the ladder and up to the coop. By 8:00 they were all tucked in for the night. Instinct is a wonderful thing!
We got them at 17 weeks, and they didn't grow up with us. So I was excited that they wanted to stay near me. It was funny how the seven of them stayed together most of the time. They're a pretty close knit flock!
Some happy pullets enjoying their freedom!
It's a big world outside the coop!
I was worried about our cat - but after sniffing around a few minutes, he decided they were too big for him to mess with and he left to find a chipmunk, lizard, or mouse to terrorize.
Around 7:45ish they started heading back to the ladder and up to the coop. By 8:00 they were all tucked in for the night. Instinct is a wonderful thing!
We got them at 17 weeks, and they didn't grow up with us. So I was excited that they wanted to stay near me. It was funny how the seven of them stayed together most of the time. They're a pretty close knit flock!
Some happy pullets enjoying their freedom!
It's a big world outside the coop!
