Cornish X - When are they allowed to free range?

[PalmRoyal]

My cornish crosses are two weeks old and I am desperate to allow them out to free range and start the exercise them. When are they allowed out to free range? Is there a magic age?

 

[osbmail]

No magic number just when it is warm enough and I usually try to set them out on days without rain. I would not be afraid to put them out at 2 weeks on warm days I would them leave out over night if you have a heat lamp near by but you might not need it. Just make sure they are not piling on top of each other.

 

[PalmRoyal]

No magic number just when it is warm enough and I usually try to set them out on days without rain. I would not be afraid to put them out at 2 weeks on warm days I would them leave out over night if you have a heat lamp near by but you might not need it. Just make sure they are not piling on top of each other.

Thank-you so much! Tomorrow (if it does not rain tonight) we will all go out for a nice little walk through the yard I think. It will be very refreshing. Is there anything I should do in order to make their first time outside a little more enjoyable and a nice learning day on the dos and do-nots of being a free range chicken? With the other poultry, I always introduce them to their home, then introduce them into the flock. After they associate with the flock, they just stay with the main flock. Since these will be a separate flock all together and will not be able to socialize with the main flock, how would I go about letting them know their boundaries of the yard and everything?

 

[osbmail]

I am not sure I always use a tractor my only worry would be keeping other birds from peck ing them. They usually will keep close to the food bowl so you should not have to worry about them roaming to far.Maybe keep a stick close by to scare other birds away.

 

[PalmRoyal]

Where we are keeping our broilers, the other birds do not go. There is quite a distance from one area to the other. Do you think if I staked up a temporary fence with some twine and sticks until they get to know their area, that it would keep them in their area? This is my first time with meat chickens. From what I hear is that they do not walk much and have a hard time with a lot of activities. I'm trying to get them more active for their own health's sake and to see if exercising your market birds really makes a difference or not (some families say that it is a must, while others say that it makes no difference).

Thank-you again for all of your help! It is really helping out a LOT!

 

[chick aholic]

Hey I am new to this and sorry for asking but can u plz tell me how to post things

 

[osbmail]

It might keep them in ,I know one strand of electric keeps chickens out of my garden I just keep it about 3 inches off the ground seems to keep layers out not sure if it would keep them in though. My layer go everywhere with in 150 yards of there coop but they stay clear of electric.

 

[PalmRoyal]

Thanks! That might be a good idea. I'll do a bit more research on the electric fence idea. It is a really good idea! Never thought about that.

 

[LindaB220]

Hey I am new to this and sorry for asking but can u plz tell me how to post things

Hi chick aholic great to have you. You can scan the different threads and if you see something just hit REPLY. If you want to comment on someones post hit QUOTE. Jump around to the different threads and join in. I'm from La. so I go to the LA Lay-er Peeps thread. Search at top for your state and join in.

 

[chick aholic]

I live in la to what a small world