Hello all, I am a first time chicken owner with 12 three week old RIR's, Black Giants and Brown Leghorns. I am planning to have these chicken be free range for all the benefits from nutrition to my wallet. When they go out in the coop and I let them out, will they know to come back? find bugs and edibles outside? avoid predation? Will all this stuff be instinct on their parts or is there something that I am going to have to do? Please let me know what you think. Thank you so much.
You should keep them in the coop for about a week, then they will know where home is. As to the predator aspect, they will be open game for the predators especially on the ground ,if they don't have a fenced in area to roam. My chickens have a run and they instinctively look up for danger. As chicks they are already scratching the groud looking for goodies, they are born with all their instincts.
