First day for chickens out of coop --- What to expect?

[OpenDays]

My chickens are now nine weeks old. They are ready to leave the coop, I think. First time chicken raiser. I'm planning on letting them out for the first time early this evening --- about 7:00 p.m. What can I expect? Will they stay near the coop or wander? When it begins to get dark, will they naturally return to the coop? I'm hoping I will not regret letting them out of the coop. Any advice for a beginner?

 

[annie3001]

I wouldnt let your chickens out of the coop when its night time; especially dark out, i would try it out in the mid morning as most predators are away! just a thought! good luck tho!

 

[JessHall]

7 PM may be a bit late but if that's what time you can let them out then so be it.
My advice is to stay close to them.
Also, it takes a few days of an out of coop - back into coop routine for them to become trained to go to the right places.
One more thing, I'd also watch any plants you really like because they like to eat your favorites!

Just have fun and watch em! Congrats!

 

[Land of Lost Toys]

I started letting mine out of the coop/run to range last week at 7:00pm. I already knew they were in the routine of going into the coop around 8pm. Sun is setting at right around 8:25 pm. I stayed outside with them to make sure all is good. They hung out close to the coop and promptly went in the coop at 8pm. Personally, I think it's better to start them close to the time they would go in the coop then work earlier and earlier....we have predators all the time including the coyotes and a huge hawk that we see all during the day. If I am not going to be outside working, the chickens are in the run or they would be dinner for something!

 

[Gonzo_MN]

I've been letting my hens (and two roo's

) out of the run for about three weeks now. They stick pretty close to the coop/run, and when they do wander far, they run like crazy to the pine trees and hide if they hear a "scary" noise. So far so good. They return to the coop just before dark without fail. I need to expand my run, so letting them out in the yard has been really good for them. I was really nervous at first, but now I'm used to it, and even go home at lunch sometimes to let them out.

 

[gottalovemychickens]

Quote:
i second that , i have already lost 24 chickens this year due to foxes , coyotes , Hawks and other things i want to shoot down but cant . and this was all at about ehhh 6-8pm.. Be very cautious

 

[cap1717]

I've been letting the girls out each afternoon, when I get home from work. They were a bit timid at first, but now are exploring the entire yard, munching heavily on what is left of the garden, keeping the small grass area "mowed" for me, finding lots of favorite "dust bath" spots, and generally having a grand time. My collie will "chicken sit" a bit, if he is out. . . he keeps a eye on them and I'm sure would defend them from predators, if needed, but spends most of his time in the house with me. . . so far at least, no predators in my neighborhood to worry about. I will need to get a fence around the garden before I replant this autumn, but other than that, the chooks and I are all "happy campers" with the arrangement. Still waiting for the first egg. . . I guess they are a little young, the oldest, I think being about 17 weeks. . . but oh, I am having "egg envy" and have to tell myself, daily, that I should not go out and get a couple of laying hens. . .

 

[gottalovemychickens]

just wait it out for your own eggs , LOL . They are so worth it , i was thinking of doing the same thing but NO NO NO once you get that first egg it will be all worth it

 

[elmo]

If it was me, I'd worry about what would happen if all of the chickens didn't go into the coop at nightfall as expected. You'd have no time left to round them up before dark, so that would mean they'd be vulnerable to predators all night.

What I've done with our chickens is train them to return to their coop with treats. I let them out in the morning, let them have 15-30 minutes free in the yard under my watchful eye, then I get out the treat cup with mealworms, stand in the coop door, and call them. After a couple of days, they learned what this process was all about.

Now it's pretty easy to get them to come back to the coop when I want to put them in.