Free ranging chickens Advice??

[HomeHatcher22]

I have 6 chickens that are all 3 months old I am planning to free range them soon but in kinda scared because I don't know if they will run away I have no fencing what so ever and I live right in the woods any advice?

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I only had problems the first day and had to corral some of mine into the coop. Let them out an hour or two before sunset and they should return to the coop.

 

[happylittlehens]

If they know the coop is home and that's where the food/water is, they will go back to it

 

[townchicks]

I would be less concerned about them running away, and more concerned about predation. An electric fence would keep them in, and prevent most predators.

 

[imnukensc]

I'm going to make the assumption that you've had them confined to the coop/run for at least a few weeks----if so, let them out as HenOnAJuneBug suggested. They will probably not range very far at all. Each day they will probably range a little farther. I, too, am pretty much surrounded by woods. Mine don't go into the woods, but will scratch/peck right on the edge of it. I've never had to corral/chase any to get them to go back to the coop at night fall. They've always gone on their own. Mine now free range daily from the time I let them out of the run in the morning until they put themselves to bed at night when I go close up the run.

 

[Littleshadow]

Chickens are kinda like dogs, they should come home to their food source.

I agree let them out a little before dawn and before you lock them up for the night get some feed in a metal bucket and shake it. They should come running. Just poor a little of the feed in their coop and that should help them a little.