how old should chicks be before you let them run in the yard?

[therealestchicken]

my chicks are currently about 8weeks old, probably more idk, they are fully feathered and are getting big quick, and their coop is starting to smell even though we clean it every two or three days, but i mean it is not the biggest and its housing 12 chicks, plus they just want out cant even open the door without a few trying to escape. so my question is what age did you let your chicks run free?

 

[sourland]

Understand that if you free range them, they may become prey. Smaller birds are readily killed/taken by raptors.

 

[therealestchicken]

Understand that if you free range them, they may become prey. Smaller birds are readily killed/taken by raptors.

yes i have been thinking about this a lot, owls killed our two roosters a few months ago and we have been very watchful of predators since. wouldnt want to let them out too soon

 

[MysteryChicken]

I free range mine at the age of 3 months.

Only had a couple close calls with a hawk.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This is not an easy question as it has a lot of personal preference in it. A broody hen will take her chicks out as soon as they come off of the nest. I've had broody hens wean their chicks at 3 weeks of age, totally leave them alone to make their own way. The chicks did. I've had broody hens wean their chicks closer to three months old. Nothing consistent there.

In many respects chicks can manage food, water, and staying warm at a really young age. My personal preference to let them do that is at five weeks. Some people I trust on here do that at 4 weeks, others wait much longer.

To me the biggest risk is predators. The smaller the chicks the more things that can eat them. I don't know what predators you have or what the risk actually is. I don't know how much it would hurt you to lose a chick or chicks. I don't know what you mean by "let your chicks run free". Is that totally free range or in a run that provides partial protection?

No matter what breeds you have they never get big enough to be safe from all predators. Each of us have to answer your question for ourselves.

 

[Debbie292d]

We have let them (silkies) free range as early as 2 months, but closer to 3 months for sure. There are two dogs and two cats, plus the roosters and us that keep the riff-raff away. Of course, this comes with some risks, but in the last 7 years of 8 that we've been here raising silkies, we've not had a predator get a single one. We live in the country and border a forest and two farmer's fields, so they are out there.

Solar motion lights and wind spinners help too.

 

[StinkyAcres]

No matter what breeds you have they never get big enough to be safe from all predators. Each of us have to answer your question for ourselves.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Mine are out free ranging 3-4 weeks old after they have self weaned off of the brooder plate. If they are hatched by one of my broody’s she takes them out usually 3-4 days old.

 

[therealestchicken]

This is not an easy question as it has a lot of personal preference in it. A broody hen will take her chicks out as soon as they come off of the nest. I've had broody hens wean their chicks at 3 weeks of age, totally leave them alone to make their own way. The chicks did. I've had broody hens wean their chicks closer to three months old. Nothing consistent there.

In many respects chicks can manage food, water, and staying warm at a really young age. My personal preference to let them do that is at five weeks. Some people I trust on here do that at 4 weeks, others wait much longer.

To me the biggest risk is predators. The smaller the chicks the more things that can eat them. I don't know what predators you have or what the risk actually is. I don't know how much it would hurt you to lose a chick or chicks. I don't know what you mean by "let your chicks run free". Is that totally free range or in a run that provides partial protection?

No matter what breeds you have they never get big enough to be safe from all predators. Each of us have to answer your question for ourselves.

what i meant by run free is out of the coop in our front yard

 

[therealestchicken]

We have let them (silkies) free range as early as 2 months, but closer to 3 months for sure. There are two dogs and two cats, plus the roosters and us that keep the riff-raff away. Of course, this comes with some risks, but in the last 7 years of 8 that we've been here raising silkies, we've not had a predator get a single one. We live in the country and border a forest and two farmer's fields, so they are out there.

Solar motion lights and wind spinners help too.

there are some predators out here so i will probably wait another month or so to start letting them free range we have had to start securing all cages, coops, and housing because we have these noisy owls around us every night im almost positive my little weiner dog was chased by one! poor thing. but we do keep the red flashing lights around where our goats and chickens stay and we keep all areas well lit