Hope I am asking this in the correct area. I have 4 chickens, well recently discovered 3 hens and 1 roo but I have been free ranging them during the day. Sometimes I let them out later or earlier and put them away later or earlier just depending on what that day brings. I was curious about what times everyone else lets out /puts away their chickens that also lets them free range. Is there a certain time you use? A certain amount of time every day? I'm new to it all and just want to make sure I'm doing everything right. I hate letting them out when I know I have to run errands and get groceries because I am not here to keep an eye on them so those are the days I let them out later, but maybe I need to get over that fear and just succumb to the fact that there are dangers with free ranging? I will be getting silkies later this week also but I was told they are only 1-3 weeks old so they will be in a brooder inside for a while, now with them being raised here once they go outside do I need to keep them in the coop for a week also? (they will have their own separate coop) Any and all advice is welcomed, and I would LOVE to hear how everyone else manages their flock that is allowed to free range. I personally couldn't imagine not letting my crew free range, sure I have to chase them out of my flower bed from time to time (I knew that was a risk before I started) but watching them walk all around the house and even come onto my deck and sit on our wagon, it's just hilarious watching them.
I let the girls out when they start to crow in the morning, then I put them away when they jump into the coop. They free range all day and ruin the grass
