Free ranging for the first time

[Tblas]

Hello all,
Nervous Newbie here! We got our girls just about a week ago. They are 18ish weeks old Red stars. I’ve been going in daily with treats having them become comfortable with me. They are picky about their treats and won’t always eat from me. I’ve picked each of them up a few times. We have one who is a real pecker, hahaha. We’ve kept them in their coop/run area so they know where home is. They seem like they want to come out to the yard, and we’re ready to have them free range a bit while we’re out here. But I’m nervous that they will stray too far, or that I’ll have to be catching all these birds. Any and all guidance or suggestions welcomed!!! I really appreciate it.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello all,
Nervous Newbie here! We got our girls just about a week ago. They are 18ish weeks old Red stars. I’ve been going in daily with treats having them become comfortable with me. They are picky about their treats and won’t always eat from me. I’ve picked each of them up a few times. We have one who is a real pecker, hahaha. We’ve kept them in their coop/run area so they know where home is. They seem like they want to come out to the yard, and we’re ready to have them free range a bit while we’re out here. But I’m nervous that they will stray too far, or that I’ll have to be catching all these birds. Any and all guidance or suggestions welcomed!!! I really appreciate it.

Wait until about 2 hours from when they normally go to roost then let them out. They won't stray far as they know dusk is approaching.

 

[Tblas]

Wait until about 2 hours from when they normally go to roost then let them out. They won't stray far as they know dusk is approaching.

Thank you for the advice. Yesterday we got home a little later than planned but we just kept the door open the other girls went up to the coop for bed but one decided to check things out a bit. She walked around the coop, jumped up on a few wood piles and investigated something then went up to the coop for bed. Having only one out last night definitely helped ease our anxiety over it.

 

[Mrs. K]

It is handy to have a couple of ways to get them rounded up before dark. Say you have to leave unexpectedly. I use two methods.

EVERY single time you bring them feed call "here chick, chick, chick" That will train them to come, put feed in the run, and you have them.

Place a bit of feed right at the door, and a bit more a little farther in. Take a stick that you can tap the ground with, go out so that all of the chickens are between you and the door to the run or coop. Tap the ground with the stick wave your arm, and say "HUT, hut" Take one step forward, moving very slow until they begin to move away from you, at that point you stop, until they stop, then take a couple more steps until they move away from you. Tap the ground if a hen try to get behind you, and if she does, let her go. She will come back to the flock. Especially when she sees them eating. You can put a rather large flock in using this method. However, this really is a slower is faster deal.

Mrs K

 

[Mtnboomer]

Using a keyword or phrase is an excellent technique. Chickens will learn sounds mean food. For instance, when my gals get a treat of table scraps i usually just open a window and scrape off the plates. In a few days, when they hear the sound of a scraping plate or even just opening a window, the come running regardless of how far away they are.

 

[Matzwd]

Agree. Come up with a sound they hear when they will be fed. They will come running every time. We shake a coffee can with grit inside.

 

[tralfaz]

newbie here also and we've been free ranging them for an hour or so before they head off for the night. Never been a problem and for me its not like Rocky 1 with Stallone trying to catch a chicken. If they don't redirect with a little nudge, we rarely have problems grabbing them. We got them as 4 month old pullets and try to socialize with them daily. Also I notice they gravitate to the red water the food dispensers. They'll follow me like a pied piper when I go to fill the water, it's actually somewhat comical to watch