Free Ranging for the First Time

[crazychickenlady1997]

So my chickens are about 3 months old now. I want to start free ranging them but am SO nervous that a) they won't come back, or b) they'll be attacked by predators.

Any advice? They've been in their coop/run for over almost 2 months now so they definitely know that it's their home.

 

[Ducksandchickens]

So my chickens are about 3 months old now. I want to start free ranging them but am SO nervous that a) they won't come back, or b) they'll be attacked by predators.

Any advice? They've been in their coop/run for over almost 2 months now so they definitely know that it's their home.

I would watch them for a little bit then let them on there own

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I kept an eye on mine for the first couple of weeks. They were very nervous and didn't range far from the safety of their run, now they wait for me at the gate! LOL. The hard part for me is to keep them on my property.

 

[crazychickenlady1997]

I kept an eye on mine for the first couple of weeks. They were very nervous and didn't range far from the safety of their run, now they wait for me at the gate! LOL. The hard part for me is to keep them on my property.

Thank you!
I have 33 acres total: about 25 cow pasture and the rest is woods. Do you think they would roam off my property with that much space?

 

[RodNTN]

In my case, I think chickens who have never free ranged before tend to stay closer to home, and chickens who do free range know not to wander too far from home

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Oh no, they won't got that far a field. They'll stay w/in sight of the house probably. I sit on 1.2 acre, without fencing. My girls are actually learning the property lines.

 

[Monday's momma]

They'll roam but they'll come back for feed make sure you treat them close to pen or inside it so they know where they get goodies.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I've also taught mine to come when I call, so it helps keep them where I want them to be.

 

[aart]

From what I've read.....
Good to start their first free ranging foray late in the day,
maybe an hour or less before they normally go to roost,
they probably won't go far and then you can see that they'll come back.
Subsequent days start a bit earlier, and so on and so forth.

Predator risk will likely always be there, whether you're 'watching' them or not.
It's why my birds stay confined in a mesh covered run.

 

[lilmillefleur]

My chickens never go too far beyond our coop.