Free range?

[CityChicken1984]

I have 3 hens who have a 12x5 run. They are 19 weeks old.and since being in the coop/run have never roamed the yard. Is that ok or do i need to let them out everyday?

 

[ChicNmom]

Lots of people keep their chickens in a coop and run to protect them from predators. If they've never been out then they probably just accept that is their life.

I got my chickens for eggs and insect control. They are used to being in the yard so they are unhappy when they don't get out.

It's a personal choice.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Plenty of people, whether by choice, or due to zoning, keep their birds in an enclosure all their lives. If you can expand the width of your run they will benefit - a single dominant bird can easily control a 5' wide passage - but its not required for your current flock size.

Personally? I free range - but in that choice, I accept a LOT of risk AND my zoning allows it. Whether you are accepting of such risk (and are zoned to permit it, or willling to take on that additional risk) is a very personal equation. There is no one size fits all answer.

 

[aart]

Is that ok or do i need to let them out everyday?

Yes and No.
I have never allowed my birds to free range and they are just fine.

 

[Sally PB]

Mine have never free ranged either. I figure they literally do not know what they are missing.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A compromise would be letting them out for a finite period each day. I let my flock out for 15-20 minutes in the afternoon so I can spend some quality downtime with them, and as it is a routine they have no complaints about going back to the run after.

 

[Perris]

At 19 weeks old your chickens are still youngsters - they won't become officially 'hens' until they are 52 weeks old (under 1 year old they are called pullets), and they can adjust easily to any changes you want to make.

Mine free range from dawn to dusk. I believe they are happier and healthier for it.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

A compromise would be letting them out for a finite period each day. I let my flock out for 15-20 minutes in the afternoon so I can spend some quality downtime with them, and as it is a routine they have no complaints about going back to the run after.

This is similar to what I do. My flock gets let out while I'm out with them. Its still a risk, but less than just free ranging all day long.

 

[Bawkbok]

We have 9x12 space, also for three hens, so not much larger than yours. It is more than sufficient space for that number. Ours free range for at least an hour in the morning before the heat of the day kicks in and in the evening an hour or more pre-coop. This is for exercise, and they love their greens and it allows them to forage for bugs. They are happier when out of course and now that it's a habit, they expect it when they see me. So like canine companions, you do it once, they expect it. Otherwise, they are in the run. When they are out, I am out with them due to hawks and blackbirds around the neighborhood all the time.
The difficult part is getting young ones to learn to come back to you when called. This is why for the first few outings, I would only allow them out of the run prior to coop time since they know that's where home is. I didn't let them out in the mornings until I could consistently call them back on demand - so they wouldn't be out all day and I don't have to chase them down - ours are hard to catch.

 

[McChooky]

I waited until my hens were two yrs old before adding a rooster and letting them free range. The amount of time they get changes daily.