Free Ranging Pullets. How to?

[DILUTEDDECAF]

Hi all!

This may be controversial, but I dont want a run. I have bought the supplies to make one, but I'd rather not. I live on a large enough plot for chickens to free range in the yard and I live in a jurisdiction where "at large" chickens are allowed. Many of my neighbors chickens walk up and down the roads all day.

I have 5 six week old chickens who i just started in the coop. I don't have older chickens, so there are none to "train" the younger ones. My question is how do I go about getting the young ones to free range AND (importantly) return home. All the other threads I see are people integrating their chickens with an established flock.

Ive read that keeping them in the coop for a week or so will teach then that it is "home," and that they will come back naturally. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A run is helpful even if you are going to free range. I personally just open the door and let the chicks explore. I round them up after a bit, and repeat daily until they are coming back on their own. If you are feeding and watering in the coop they will come back to eat and drink.

If your coop is large enough they should want to come back to it to roost at night for safety. If your coop is smaller they may not want to return, and you may need to keep rounding them up. So a good set up is important for free ranging to work well.

 

[Mrs. K]

If other people just let their chickens out near by, well there is a good chance that you are going to loose some birds to their flocks, and get some strange birds in your flock.

A set up like this will work well until you get hit by a predator. Predators can wipe you out or just come back day after day until they have picked you completely off.

Generally speaking, birds come back to where they last roosted the night before...as long as they don't find a better place. Generally speaking, when you first let them out, they won't roam far from the coop, but each time you let them out, they roam farther afield.

Mrs K

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

I don't think a run is necessary. Plenty of people around here only have coops and let their chickens free range during the day. The only issue with this is, if you live in a place with rough winters or inclement weather, keeping them locked in a coop for days on end can be rough on chickens.

I'd keep them in the coop for a week or two, definitely until they're roosting together faithfully every night, and then let them out for short periods (an hour or two) close to dusk to see if they return on their own. They likely will.

I don't think you have to train a chicken to free-range, it's a natural instinct, although some breeds are a bit better at it than others. Getting them to come in when you call can take a bit of training. We start this young with mealworms sprinkled into the coop or permanent run as lure and reward. I don't think mine respond to my call as much as they do the mealworm bucket. Whenever they see it, they come running which is all that matters.