First Free Range for the chick-chicks... Was SO nervous (well, I was!)

[CherokeeFlats]

Ok, so today was the 1st day I have EVER let them just run around the yard. We stayed pretty close to make sure no one went MIA on us...

As you can see from the picture, they didnt go too far from their coop and run area. Some would get adventurous and then Magnifico (our Comet x cockerel) would make this funny noise and they'd come runnin back!!

They were out for about 2 hrs with strict superervision... Austin (he is the one that "has" the chickens) can out like OMG MOM, THE CHICKENS GOT OUT!!! He was so freaked out by it

He was pretty cool with it.. Our BIG RIR Cockerel was running with him aruond the yard.. THAT was prob one of the funniest things I have ever seen...

But, I finally did it.. Broke down and let them be out for a bit...

UGh.. now I am inside still freakin out... LOL

 

[Happy Chooks]

Glad it went well. I don't think mine will ever get out. (although their run is huge, roughly 50 ft X 100 ft) We just have too many predators around here.

 

[MariposaMama]

I keep saying I'm going to let mine out and then I chicken out.

There are 33 of them, so I'm partly afraid some won't come back on their own and I'd never catch them. We don't have too many daytime predators to worry about but plenty of nighttime ones.

Some of my friends free-range theirs all day long without a problem and theirs always come home at night, so I don't know why I'm so afraid mine won't.

Congrats on a successful first outing for your birds. I only wish I had grass that green for mine to play on.

 

[fldiver97]

Hppy for you that all went well. I bet it was nerve wrecking. I am sure that the chickens enjoyed exploring though, good that your rooster keeps everyone in line!!!! I have a big yard and it is fenced in so they an only go so far but I am still worried about them. They spend a lot of time along the bushes and in my rain garden......it's full with huge cuppplants, Joe Pye Weed and other tall plants and hides the chickens well

Iam not sure what I'll do in winter and early spring.......They'll have to spend more time in the run I guess. Beautiful flock!!!!

 

[CherokeeFlats]

Thank you.. They are beautiful... I love the RIRs. The Comets are starting to grow on me as they mature and show their colors...

I never noticed it till now, but my grass is really green!! No special stuff done either.. Guess it's the plus of living on good farm land

We are going to let me run a bit again later today! Who knows.. maybe I'll get comfortable enough to let them be all day... Hmmm.. or not

 

[gritsar]

I was nervous when mine first started going out, at 2 1/2 weeks. After awhile I got less nervous and the chickens grew more confident.
Now they are out all day long and put themselves to bed at night. It just seemed like a natural progression to me. I was mama hen when they needed it and as they grew they needed me less and less.

 

[gottalovemychickens]

grats i dont think i have the balls to let mine out like that with all the coyotes and foxes we have , NO THANK YOU haha

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
We have coyotes, foxes, bobcats and bocat hybrids, raccoons, possums, hawks and at least one pair of golden eagles. My chickens learned real early where to hide and more importantly, when to hide. There's plenty of heavy brush and trees on our farm and they take advantage of that. My rooster is very vigalant about letting the hens know when there is trouble around.
If we had a problem with stray dogs or cats, I might be less inclined to free range; but we don't have that problem.
I love my chickens as much as the next person. Free ranging comes with risks, but it also comes with many benefits. Unless something drastically changes in our enviroment, my chickens will always free range.

 

[txchickie]

Quote:
Have I told you lately that I love you?

 

[catfish/okie]

Mine get to get out on my days off for a couple of hours before dark. I watch em to keep them from flying over the fence into the neighbors yard.