How long before I can let my new chickens free range?

[ufo_chris]

Hello all.
I got 3 new chickens and a roo(all light brahma's ) last saturday.
They are still locked up and have a little run that goes ouside where my other chickens can get used to them.
These new ones are almost grown,almost 4 mo. old. I do have 2 other roos and 3 chickens.
What is the time frame before I can let them freerange and they will come back?
Also,I know chickens fight a bit with newbies,will the Brahma rooster be in danger with my 2 roos (they are nice enough to each other) or is he too young still for them to care?
Thanks so much,Chris

 

[ufo_chris]

just a ps:why does my post not show up as 'new' with the chick and bold?

 

[TipsyDog]

I think you can let them out to free range. If you got them Saturday, that's a good 5 days and they should have a clue where they belong by now. I would let them out the first couple of times late in the day so they won't go far. They should come right back as dusk approaches. I'm not sure about the roos - maybe someone else can answer that for you.

Good luck and enjoy your chickens!

 

[teach1rusl]

Well...I would probably only give them access to the run for about two weeks before I'd let them freerange. It probably depends on the birds really, so I'm just saying what I'd do myself.
As for the roos, I'd say there is a HIGH chance that they will fight if they are in the run, less so if they free range. Also, with only six hens and three roosters, you're probably going to have problems down the road. It's really recommended that each rooster have about 10 hens. I recently rehomed a young rooster because he was wearing my five girls down; he went to a place where he had 12 girls to himself. With numbers like those, often times you'll even find more than one rooster ganging up on hens. Watch your hens closely.

PS...they're all chickens

Male chickens are roos/female chickens are hens (or cockerels/pullets)

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. Also, with the roosters you'll probably have to take a wait and see attitude. If the new roo is smart and falls in line as a subordinate, you may have no trouble at all. If he gets a bit uppity, they may give him a thrashing. I'd watch them closely.

 

[ufo_chris]

Thanks all!
Yes I know,I somehow never got used to the 'hen' term,I'm always calling the girls 'chickens'

I will let them out in a few days ,when I have a day off work and have time to watch closely. Brahma Roos are supposed to be pretty laid back and my 2 roos are too (that's why I keep them) so I'm hoping they won't fight.
I did have more hens with my roos but they were all old and I have lost quite a few just in the last year.
Thanks so much,
Chris