First free-range experience

[mradam]

I did try some cracked corn as a treat in their run this evening. They were less than impressed. I guess bugs and grass are more exciting than corn these days...

Also, when I waited the first night until sunset, it was very dark (couldn't even see them out there any more) and they hadn't come in yet. I am being patient with them, they are new at this too after all!

I could watch them for hours hunting around and digging in the dirt. They seem very interested in whatever area I am standing in. They will run over to me and eat the grass next to my boots.

Chickens are great.

 

[conroy]

Our girls flip over American Cheese...

 

[kearns911]

Hello there, you will have to excuse my ignorants 'am new to the chicken world

' I have only had my girls for a few weeks and there 20 weeks old, I was wondering at what stage should I let them out of there coop?

 

[mychickensrock]

We just bought 8 new girls on Sunday. They'd never been out in the free world. It was simply the best watching them suck down grass like spaghetti and running around like wild women chasing bugs. Getting them back in the coop that first night was tricky. It involved me, my DH, DS, and nephew trying to surround individual chickens to catch them. We learned that banties can run REALLY fast and get through very small spaces. Last night, we only had to wrangle one girl. Everybody else went back to the coop on their own.

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Hi and welcome to BYC. There are no stupid questions - everyone has to start somewhere.

However, the question you asked will get a dozen different responses and you will have to make your own decision based on your own surroundings.

I, for one, do total free range - meaning no fences. I let them out of the coop in the morning and they take off into yards and woods and hopefully come back in the evening. A sad downside to total free range is predator loss and I have lost a few over the last two years. I do have 4 dogs who help with predator patrol and intermingle with the chickens all day long and sleep out there at night. I am surrounded by tens of thousands of acres of woods and have no neighbors.

That being said, I start letting them out of the brooder hutch (in the coop) at about a week old as long as it's 60 or so degrees outside. I keep the run gate closed so they can come out of the brooder hutch (where a heat lamp is only used at nights) and run around the coop and venture outside into the picket fenced run area. By three weeks old, they are being allowed to total free range along with everyone else. By about 7-8 weeks old, it's hard to tell them from the grown birds. They are large and fully feathered and run about the place, returning at night.

In any event, since yours are at 20 weeks they are at laying age and hopefully have had access to outside the coop. You should have a fenced run area that they have access to.

I would advise anyone to have a coop, put the brooder in the coop, start letting them out of the brooder to run around the coop as early as possible, and to have access to a fenced outside run.

All of my chickens live peacefully together, all ages, sizes and breeds and 14 roosters to boot. No fighting, no feather picking, no egg bound issues. I believe it's because they get to wear themselves out being chickens running around all day long.

Right now I have a mama hen and her babies running around and she took them out of the coop when they were just a few days old and it's in the 60s here (they have never had a heat lamp). I figure if it's good enough for mama hens, it's good enough for the rest of them that I'm raising.

I love being able to walk around my farm and have chickens following me or to come upon a roo and his little flock of hens wherever I go. I also like finding hidden nests of eggs. Since I never know how old the eggs are, I put them in the bator and so far they always hatch so I've constantly got little chicks running around.

One final big advantage to free ranging is that they lay sooner. Mine start laying at barely 4 months old - 16 weeks. And it's not just me, I've read articles that back up this claim.

So, all that being said.....if at all possible, let them out for a little fun and you'll enjoy them so much more.

 

[kearns911]

Hi there, thank you for your response it's much appreciated.
I currently let them out into there enclosed run area every morning and there going back in the coop themselves at night 'I only have to lock the door behind them'. My wife would like to let them free range of a day 'but I am worried about them getting over the fence or worse still getting attacked by next door cats! would you recommend clipping there flight feathers?

 

[LuvinMyPeeps]

I'm considering free ranging too. We have 11 acres, but it only has horse fencing. I would love to add a picket fence, since our two neighbors live about 3 acres or so behind us. Would you recommend doing that, or do you think they'll not go into the neighbor's yards? (Both neighbors also have chickens and dogs). I have all standard sized hens, except one banty who can fly like nobody's business!

Any advice for the newbie? They're about 24 weeks old.

Thanks!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I don't think most chickens would roam more than 3 acres away from their coop, not unless they found some exceptionally tasty treats over there! I only have 1.5 acres & most of the flock hangs out in the back yard, few go into the front, none go out of the fence. They mostly like to hang out under the bushes, hedges & trees. I have several areas planted with flowering perennial shrubs for bird-and-butterfly gardens, and they all enjoy scratching around in there.

As Ruth said, there is a risk you have to be willing to take. You may have to learn the hard way what threats you have around your own place. During the daytime the worst threats are hawks & dogs. Cats usually don't bother grown chickens, but could harm chicks or bantams.

I'd suggest training them to come to your signal while still in their pens, then start letting them out right before roost-time, and a little bit longer each day. I wish you good results with whatever you decide!

 

[LuvinMyPeeps]

Thanks Sunny! I think I'll try it. I need to get a net...I'm too 'chicken' to be chasing them all over the woods LOL....