Hi guys.

[RyanWA]

Hello,

My name is Ryan I just singed up on the site, seems like I'll gain a lot of info on here.

I am new to keeping chickens but have been around them for a few year but I don't know the finer points.

I bought 4 adult hens from the same source So I think they are good together. My main concern at the moment is I want to free range them. I have a fairly large grass yard unfenced surrounded by woods. I kind of tried an experiment by letting one out to see what she would do but I got nervous and tried to, I dunno shoo her back into the coop but.... That didn't work and she ran off into the woods for a few hrs but came back.

How do I get them to trust me? I know alot of people call them back with food but since this is the first day they don't know me from a stick in the mud. Should I keep them in the coop for a week or two before free ranging them

Please let me know how you very first started free ranging your hens.


Thanks guys/girls

-Ry.

 

[drumstick diva]

Yes, do coop them up for 3 days or so before letting them out to free range. By then they will know the coop is their home. You do know that free ranging carries risks of predator attacks - so sooner or later you will be losing some of your birds.

 

[RyanWA]

Ya I've kinda made peace with that I'm hoping my dogs will protect them. I thanks for the reply.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X2, keep them locked in the coop/run for a while so they get used to thinking of it as home, usually they are pretty good in 3/4 days but it may take a couple of weeks before they get to know you and to trust you to some extent, or at least realize you bring the special treats. If they know scratch that will usually work well as a bribe, if they don't, just toss some out for a few days, they will probably decide they like it pretty fast. When you feed them scratch in the run over the days gradually make them come closer and closer to you to get it, pretty soon they should be mobbing you, if you make the same call/ shake the can, usually they will come running from all over even when you let them outside. When they are coming near you in the run then start letting them out to free range a short time before they would normally go to bed, they shouldn't range that far.
X2, you are running the risk of losing birds to predator attacks.
You might also like to check out the BYC Learning Center, lots of good articles on all aspects of chicken keeping. https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center And it is always fun to check out your state thread for chicken keeping neighbors https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread

 

[RyanWA]

Thanks for the reply. Okay so I'll leave them in for a good five days to be safe. So start out a few hrs from sun down? Do you hurd them in or just let them go in on their own? How do you hurd a flock Btw?

Thanks for the link I will definitely check that out.

-Ry

 

[Fierlin1182]

Hi and

Once they know where their home is, they will return to the coop by themselves at night time. We haven't bothered with our chickens at night for many years - they teach any new arrivals the routine as well.

I find the best way to herd a flock is to grab a garden rake (more effective than a long stick, which also works) and persuade them along in the desired direction. Just wave the rake around behind them or over their backs and they will move. Don't be afraid to give them a tap if they're slow to get the hang of it. Now, whenever our chickens see us approaching with the rake, they run ahead of us back into the coop with no prompting because they know the drill.

You can also try enticing them over to you with food. That method doesn't always work though, especially when there are tastier things to be found while free ranging.

We also have had 4 hens and it's not too many to use the rake method.

Good luck, and enjoy your chickens!

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

X3 You need to confine them so they know where home is. Then they will be comfortable with hanging close by the coop and not straying off.

Good luck with your new flock and welcome to ours!

 

[gander007]

Alright Ryan