How long before I can start letting my chickens free range?

[ball44]

I recently bought some adult chickens. I want to let them out of their coop to free range but was wondering how long before I can start letting them out and know that they will return every night.

Thanks.

 

[mabhera]

I'll wait at least a week so they learn where to sleep at night.

 

[redhotchick]

What you wanna do is let them out an hour or so before nighttime. That way they wont have time to go very far. After one night its ok