First time to free range?!?

[Life is Good!]

It's always an Easter egg hunt, when I let them out too early in the day.

Oh, is THAT what the possum is doing out in the yard after dark? 'Cuz they can ALWAYS find the ones we miss...

 

[TheklaF]

Not laughing - most of us would admit to being newbie once upon a time!

Since your chicks are still in a brooder, I'm guessing they are less than 2 months old. Our set-up is a bit different...but I'll give you some tips I've used to successfully help young chickens figure out life. Spartan 22 gave you a bunch of good tips above! Especially about the 'know where to lay' - that's key! There's a few things I'd add to their note...

Our chicks stay in a brooder (with Brinsea Ecoglow) for 2 weeks. At two weeks, I put them into their own coop with the Ecoglow as warmth. I do not let them out into their run until they are 4 weeks old - mostly because by then, they're big enough to stay in their run. Younger and/or smaller, they find the gaps in the gate/fence joint and wriggle their way into trouble. And chasing a baby chick in the dark is not much fun!

I train the chicks from the time they're in the brooder that I bring treats. When they're little, it's live mealworms (I grow my own) or dandelion leaves (we don't spray) or cold chopped up scrambled eggs (good protein even if it's a bit weird). I do this daily, usually about the same time. When they're bigger, I introduce them to BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) - which is commonly known here as chicken crack. I serve this by putting the BOSS into a bright red scoop (remember chicks can see red), and shake it to make noise. It's amazing how fast they learn that sound!

Then, when they're bigger and I need them to return to the coop - all I have to do is call them and shake that scoop with BOSS in it. And they come RUNNING! (which is also of great humor value!) Think severe thunderstorm coming fast and they're out oblivious to the skies...done that too many times to count. They do eventually come in out of the rain, but mercy, they'd rather not!

I do not let the chicks out of their protected run until they are at minimum 5#'s weight. That's too big for a kestrel to take as prey. Anything smaller, and they could be fodder for some aerial predator (for us kestrels and red tailed hawks, owls at night). Also take into account - neighbor's dogs, wandering raccoon, stupid skunk, wayward curious children, etc. Not sure of your neighborhood, but be wary!

But, when they are small, I do take a 50' fence with some push-in garden posts, make a big circle and put a waterer in it and a large box or other hidey-spot and let them be 'out' with protection. Typically, this is a weekend thing, where I'm out in the garden nearby and keep an eye on things with my dog overseeing it all. They think it's wonderful, have some fun, but are still protected. Make sure you have extra hands available to cart everyone back 'home' at the end of the session. (That's what the box is for - easy transport! A lid is a helpful thing here...btdt...)

Now, if there's a protective Momma involved - don't EVER mess with Momma! - things are a bit different. And I'll let the chicks with Momma out in the yard (with me nearby) at about 4-6wks old. Not sooner.

I hope this helps you! Best of luck!

Thanks for all the info - also a newbie here ;-) one question: how old do they need to be to start the BOSS?

 

[Life is Good!]

Thanks for all the info - also a newbie here ;-) one question: how old do they need to be to start the BOSS?

Trying to remember...I think the chicks can eat BOSS at about a month...as long as they've had grit and it fits in their beaks, it's down! I can't remember when my broody's let the chicks get boss - I'm sure it's fairly young....

 

[Aji Dulce]

Not laughing - most of us would admit to being newbie once upon a time!

Since your chicks are still in a brooder, I'm guessing they are less than 2 months old. Our set-up is a bit different...but I'll give you some tips I've used to successfully help young chickens figure out life. Spartan 22 gave you a bunch of good tips above! Especially about the 'know where to lay' - that's key! There's a few things I'd add to their note...

Our chicks stay in a brooder (with Brinsea Ecoglow) for 2 weeks. At two weeks, I put them into their own coop with the Ecoglow as warmth. I do not let them out into their run until they are 4 weeks old - mostly because by then, they're big enough to stay in their run. Younger and/or smaller, they find the gaps in the gate/fence joint and wriggle their way into trouble. And chasing a baby chick in the dark is not much fun!

I train the chicks from the time they're in the brooder that I bring treats. When they're little, it's live mealworms (I grow my own) or dandelion leaves (we don't spray) or cold chopped up scrambled eggs (good protein even if it's a bit weird). I do this daily, usually about the same time. When they're bigger, I introduce them to BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) - which is commonly known here as chicken crack. I serve this by putting the BOSS into a bright red scoop (remember chicks can see red), and shake it to make noise. It's amazing how fast they learn that sound!

Then, when they're bigger and I need them to return to the coop - all I have to do is call them and shake that scoop with BOSS in it. And they come RUNNING! (which is also of great humor value!) Think severe thunderstorm coming fast and they're out oblivious to the skies...done that too many times to count. They do eventually come in out of the rain, but mercy, they'd rather not!

I do not let the chicks out of their protected run until they are at minimum 5#'s weight. That's too big for a kestrel to take as prey. Anything smaller, and they could be fodder for some aerial predator (for us kestrels and red tailed hawks, owls at night). Also take into account - neighbor's dogs, wandering raccoon, stupid skunk, wayward curious children, etc. Not sure of your neighborhood, but be wary!

But, when they are small, I do take a 50' fence with some push-in garden posts, make a big circle and put a waterer in it and a large box or other hidey-spot and let them be 'out' with protection. Typically, this is a weekend thing, where I'm out in the garden nearby and keep an eye on things with my dog overseeing it all. They think it's wonderful, have some fun, but are still protected. Make sure you have extra hands available to cart everyone back 'home' at the end of the session. (That's what the box is for - easy transport! A lid is a helpful thing here...btdt...)

Now, if there's a protective Momma involved - don't EVER mess with Momma! - things are a bit different. And I'll let the chicks with Momma out in the yard (with me nearby) at about 4-6wks old. Not sooner.

I hope this helps you! Best of luck!

Not laughing - most of us would admit to being newbie once upon a time!

Since your chicks are still in a brooder, I'm guessing they are less than 2 months old. Our set-up is a bit different...but I'll give you some tips I've used to successfully help young chickens figure out life. Spartan 22 gave you a bunch of good tips above! Especially about the 'know where to lay' - that's key! There's a few things I'd add to their note...

Our chicks stay in a brooder (with Brinsea Ecoglow) for 2 weeks. At two weeks, I put them into their own coop with the Ecoglow as warmth. I do not let them out into their run until they are 4 weeks old - mostly because by then, they're big enough to stay in their run. Younger and/or smaller, they find the gaps in the gate/fence joint and wriggle their way into trouble. And chasing a baby chick in the dark is not much fun!

I train the chicks from the time they're in the brooder that I bring treats. When they're little, it's live mealworms (I grow my own) or dandelion leaves (we don't spray) or cold chopped up scrambled eggs (good protein even if it's a bit weird). I do this daily, usually about the same time. When they're bigger, I introduce them to BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) - which is commonly known here as chicken crack. I serve this by putting the BOSS into a bright red scoop (remember chicks can see red), and shake it to make noise. It's amazing how fast they learn that sound!

Then, when they're bigger and I need them to return to the coop - all I have to do is call them and shake that scoop with BOSS in it. And they come RUNNING! (which is also of great humor value!) Think severe thunderstorm coming fast and they're out oblivious to the skies...done that too many times to count. They do eventually come in out of the rain, but mercy, they'd rather not!

I do not let the chicks out of their protected run until they are at minimum 5#'s weight. That's too big for a kestrel to take as prey. Anything smaller, and they could be fodder for some aerial predator (for us kestrels and red tailed hawks, owls at night). Also take into account - neighbor's dogs, wandering raccoon, stupid skunk, wayward curious children, etc. Not sure of your neighborhood, but be wary!

But, when they are small, I do take a 50' fence with some push-in garden posts, make a big circle and put a waterer in it and a large box or other hidey-spot and let them be 'out' with protection. Typically, this is a weekend thing, where I'm out in the garden nearby and keep an eye on things with my dog overseeing it all. They think it's wonderful, have some fun, but are still protected. Make sure you have extra hands available to cart everyone back 'home' at the end of the session. (That's what the box is for - easy transport! A lid is a helpful thing here...btdt...)

Now, if there's a protective Momma involved - don't EVER mess with Momma! - things are a bit different. And I'll let the chicks with Momma out in the yard (with me nearby) at about 4-6wks old. Not sooner.

I hope this helps you! Best of luck!

Do you still have Javas? I have Mottled Javas. Came here looking for pointers on when to free-range and I see your suggestion of 5 lb. minimum. Makes sense, my concern has been susceptibility to predators. I'll go with that. My chicks are 8 weeks old today. Thanks!