Coop to Free range??

[jenmiller]

I have just round about 25 chickens...they are in a coop now and i want to free range them...how do i go about starting them free ranging or is it as easy as opening the door and letting them out for the day and shutting the door at night?? (im home all day)

 

[dainerra]

yeah, it's pretty much that easy

I start off by letting them out about an hour or so before dusk. That way you can insure that they don't wander too far. The first few times, they won't go too far anyway; they might barely peek outside. But don't worry, they'll catch on qucik!

 

[silky_3699]

as easy as that, but make sure they cant run away too far (well we have 14'000 acres and they dont go too far) and make sure you dont have to many predators. then everything should be okay. the first time, watch them, then you can keep watching them as you let them out the next day, etc, etc. but just keep a close eye on them! everything should be fine! Happy Free-ranging!

 

[cobrien]

the first time you let them out, do it 1/2 to 1 hour or so before they typically go to roost in the coop, and stay with them to make sure they don't go too far and they make it back to the coop. Once you see them do this you can be pretty sure they know where the coop is and will return back.

 

[jenmiller]

First day of free range chickens....Success!!!!!!!! Well kind of, they were scared to come out at first and my rooster (Zeus) would chase all my girls back into the coop. so i left and started dinner and when i had come back, they had left the coop and were walking around a few feet from the coop!!!! Then after dinner, they were in the grass...playing and chasing bugs! but i had issues putting them back in. Im guessing it was b/c it wasnt all the way dark yet. They seemed happier and frumpier!!!