chicks ALWAYS outside

[blueheaven]

my 15 weeks old pullets are always outside.

i cannot remember the last time i saw them inside during the day...
they have a chicken tractor with 14 sq ft per bird and i let them free range some of the time when i am home...

is this normal?

 

[gritsar]

Completely normal. My chickens go out as soon as I open the coop in the morning (tumble out more like it) and stay out until just before dark. Been doing it this way since they were about 10 weeks old. I lock them in the coop at night for their safety.
ETA: The only time my hens go in during the day is to use the nestboxes.

 

[AK Michelle]

Mine tumble out too, some fly (or leap in a very jerky uncoordinated way that reminds me of Steve Martin while flapping thier wings) out into the run and stay there until I herd them back in.

I'm in Alaska and the days are still long, it's getting dark near mid-night. Last weekend we stayed out in the yard by the fire until 2 am, so I let the birds stay out to see what they would do and most went in around 10-ish but several stayed out and had to be sent to bed.

My run doesn't have a top yet so they only get to be out when I'm home to protect them from hawks, etc. so I was curious to see what they would do.

Michelle

 

[kittyariel]

Mine are allowed to play in the yard all day, their coop is pretty much just their bed, they go back there every night at 8 sharp. Their new thing is hanging out in the front yard and under the front porch

 

[blueheaven]

mine have an enclosed coop/run so i leave the door open 24/7. they just love to be outside...