Can I free range an already established cooped flock

[caliclucker]

Woo Hoo

Success! I opened the run door at about 3:30 this afternoon and within a minute they began venturing out. Within 5 minutes they were all out. They immediately began exploring and pecking at everything. Strangely enough they seemed very calm and at ease. Some even settled down in the dirt for siestas. I was expecting them to be nervous but not at all. They were so cute too because they would come around occassionally to say "hi" while I was cleaning their coop. My 3 year old daughter was right in the middle of all 15 of them feeding them pieces of grass and was loving every minute of it.

As dusk neared a few began making their way back inside the run, (a broody one that I had to forcefully remove from her box was happily back in her new cleaned out coop. She complained the whole time she was ranging, waiting for me to finish cleaning.) While most of the hens hung outside the run door as it got darker, there were a few stragglers not wanting to settle down just yet. I coaxed them all in to the run with some canned corn and shut the gate. I want to help them the first couple of times until I'm sure they know where the door is. I'm sure they know but the mama in me worries.

All in all it was a very rewarding positive experience. I can't believe I waited this long to try this. Thanks again for the info and encouragement!