Hello BYC!!!

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hoselayer

In the Brooder
Jun 16, 2016
10
2
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Well, today I became an official BYC owner! I am the proud papa of an 8 bird flock. Oh, btw..... there is NO bad undertones for my screen name. I am a firefighter. Just like to clarify that in every forum before someone accidentally gets offended. :thumbsup

Picked up 2 Golden Laced Wyandottes from 1 breeder and 3 each of Barred Rock and Golden Buffs from another. All 8 are pullets. The BR's and GB's are a couple weeks older than the GLW's. They actually group up in their 6 / 2 families right now and the GLW's know they arent the top hens. Lol. I am thinking that one of my BR's may be a cockerel but I'll post that in the appropriate forum.

My question as a new member & owner is this: When should I let them all free range?? They all free ranged prior to me buying them. Right now i have them in the run and coop together to interact. There has been very little "fighting" and with them being in a new yard and coop I am leary of letting them out to soon since they dont know where "home" is just yet.
 
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Hey hoselayer I am so happy you joined us here at BYC! I am glad that you told us about your user before someone could accidentally take wrong meaning towards it and I thank you for your service as a firefighter. When I got my chickens I waited a few days to let them free roam. If you have 8 your best bet would be to start out with the 2 oldest chickens and let the free roam for 10-15 minutes a couple times a day. Do not start with younger chickens because they are restless and tend to wander and run off. The two oldest normally just stay around the coop and eat bugs. If one of your oldest chickens is mean or violent then you should not let him free roam right away. Also after a few days to a week the chickens will figure out the coop has food water and shelter and will not wander off to far. I hope you are enjoying BYC and I hope you and your 8 chicken flock are doing great!
Justin
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Hello and welcome to our community and congrats on your flock. If your flock is going into the coop at night, then i would suggest its ok to let the free range. For the first day, it may be an idea to let them out of the run an hour or so before dusk - that way they will not wander too far away from the run / coop. If they return to the coop that night, then you can be fairly sure that they know where "home" is.

All the best
CT
 
Some suggest you lock them in the coop for a few days (with food and water) so they imprint on the coop as their home. After you let them free they should return at dusk every day .
 
Welcome to BYC
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Glad you joined us! I keep new chickens confined the coop and run for about a week before letting them free range in the late afternoons a bit and then full time when they know their way around.
 

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