Chickents want to go outside.

[2dancingrats]

Please help my poor overprotected chickens. My husband has not built the chicken yard (fortress) he's planned. I'm sure it'll be fantastic, but in the meantime my chickens are on "house arrest".

I want to let them out of the coop for some ground time.
If I let them out, how do I get them to go back in?

Also, my husband is really worried that they will run away if they not fenced. We live on a farm, so it would be a long walk for them to get to the road (which he's sure they're dying to cross). I need to know what they'll do when I let them out, so I can put his mind at ease. Thanks

 

[chickenbottom]

well if they have been in there awhile they will establish this as home head quarters and at the end of the day they will know that this is where they sleep every night its just free ranging

 

[2dancingrats]

Will they stay near the coop while they are out ranging? Will they stay near each other? What if I had to leave and wanted them to go home before "bedtime"? We have a lot of hawks in our area and our chickens are about half-grown.

 

[freebirder]

Get them used to coming to you for special treats. I use a bird seed mix. Never fails. When I want them to come back in all I do is get some seed and put my hands down or place some in their smaller feeding tray then pick it up and they will follow you anywhere.

My girls usually actually want to go back in after an hour or two on the outside. I have them fenced in anywhere they go on my 1.5 acres but only main area is also top covered. So many stray cats and hawks etc around we watch 'em pretty close.
I've actually been putting them under my deck at times. The bottom is all fenced in to keep other critters out from getting under it. Used to get skunks and coons under there. I have as 2' section I removed to put them in or take back out from. So it's completely enclosed and safe. It's cooler under there and ripe for bugging.

Good luck free ranging. They will appreciate you for it.

 

[2dancingrats]

Thank you. You've been more than helpful and I really appreciate it!

 

[greathorse]

It has been my experience that if the chickens have not been out of the coop before, they will take a long time to come out and cruise around. Most likely they will stay very close to the coop and go back into it at the slightest sign of trouble. It would be very unusual if they did not all go back into the coop at dusk. Mine always have if they have established that as home or the roost. If the road is quite a long ways it will take them quite some time to get that far from the coop.

 

[Balfour Girl]

We've been keeping our new pullets at the neighbour's coop until they're old enough to meet our rooster and share the new coop we just built. Last night something attacked them and now the three who survived are coming home today. They'll meet their rooster (still a little young but what else can I do?), move into their new home and learn about free ranging all at once. What a day this is turning out to be for them! I'm devastated because my husband told me to close the little chicken door at night and I thought that was silly. Their run was covered and protected. Obviously not... sigh.

 

[2dancingrats]

Thank you, again. My girls got their first "furlough" today. They also said THANK YOU.

 

[catwalk]

I live in town, and with one exception, they all stay near my house by their own choice. I can always find them chasing ants on the patio or dust/ mud bathing in the fire pit. They are penned when I am not home, but they like to be in there anyway. The exception? A huge crested Silkie hen who likes to get away from the "kids". I keep track of her, but I also don't believe that pavement holds any allure for her. Too hot, and no bugs!

 

[jjthink]

Quote:
I wouldn't let them out when you can't be there to supervise. Full grown they are hawk bait. Half grown and for sure you will lose them.
You might try letting them out shortly before their bedtime when you can be right with them and then they will hopefully head to bed after an hour or so out about. Sunflower/bird seed treats will help!
JJ