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

[Debbie292d]

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

If you have the time, you could let them out a couple of hours before dusk while you're around so they get some time outside. This would be good training anyway to teach them to go back in there at night as I doubt they'll go back in there on their own. It usually takes 3-5 days to teach chickens where to go sleep at night as ours always puddle up somewhere nearby.