How do you transition to free ranging?

[FowlWitch]

I have my 4 chickens in an 8x8 covered run, and I'd like to start having them semi-freeranged. I want to errect a barrier to keep them away from my dogs and the street, but otherwise, they'll have access to the forest next to my house.

How do I do this safely with birds that aren't used to freeranging? Do I need to be concerned that they'll run away? I doubt they will, but they're my pets and I want to keep them safe.

 

[Willowspirit]

My chickens stick pretty close to their run when I let them out. They love to go and wait at the run door like shoppers on Black Friday but then they only go about ten feet away. If something frightens them they run/fly back to their run as fast as they can.

 

[aart]

How do I do this safely with birds that aren't used to freeranging? Do I need to be concerned that they'll run away? I doubt they will, but they're my pets and I want to keep them safe.

How long have you had your chickens and how old are they?
Are your dogs confined to a kennel and how high is their fence?
They probably won't run away if they've been living in coop and run for at least a few weeks.
Start ranging late in day(an hour before roost time) so they won't go far before coming back to coop to roost. Let them out a bit earlier each day.

Free ranging is never 100% safe.

 

[FowlWitch]

How long have you had your chickens and how old are they?
Are your dogs confined to a kennel and how high is their fence?
They probably won't run away if they've been living in coop and run for at least a few weeks.
Start ranging late in day(an hour before roost time) so they won't go far before coming back to coop to roost. Let them out a bit earlier each day.

Free ranging is never 100% safe.

The dogs have a fenced in area. The fence is about 6 or 6.5 feet high. 3 of the chickens are just shy of a year old, the other chicken is probably around 9 or 10 weeks (I don't know his exact age). He's been in the run for 3 or 4 weeks now, but he's pretty skittish, and the hens scare him.