How old to Free Range

[salty]

I have some older hens and added the "babies" to the flock earlier this week. They are getting along great because I had keep them in the coop but in a seperate pen where they could all see each other for a couple of weeks. My cochin is playing mom! The older hens have not been out for a couple of days as I am worried about losing the babies...they are about 4 months old now. Will they get lost...will they come back tonight? Should I give it a few more days???

 

[Beekissed]

They are old enough! I started free ranging my young ones from the hatchery at 1 mo. of age. They learned quickly from the older flock and they all would run like crazy when the roo alarmed. They marched right into the coop like the big gals when it got dark and hopped right up onto the lower rung of the roosts.

They will do fine with the older gals to teach them.

 

[boaz]

We let ours range at much earlier ages than that. There are no guarantees in terms of what they might run into during the day but with regards to coming home, they always do.

 

[salty]

Okay...I did it. They are having a ball. Only the cochin stuck around. The rest took off like they were mad from being cooped up/

 

[nhchickmom]

Ours went out at about 8 weeks. They love it and they always come back in at night with the big girls!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. Let the older birds teach them about life in the chicken yard.

 

[Chris623]

But without having older hens to "mentor" the youngsters, when would it be considered prudent to allow them to leave the run freely during the day?

 

[PatS]

But without having older hens to "mentor" the youngsters, when would it be considered prudent to allow them to leave the run freely during the day?

Yes, someone please address this! Our little Buff Orpingtons are 5 weeks old. They put themselves to bed (leave the run to go into the coop) all by themselves, and have for the last several night. But if I let them into the whole big. backyard (a couple of acres) I don't know that they'd even KNOW how to get back.

Also, how old do they need to be before a hawk won't carry one off?

Thank you!​

 

[gritsar]

IMO, no. Without a chicken mentor you need to be there to supervise. I suppose mine were about 10 weeks old before I felt comfortable about leaving them unsupervised for short periods of time. They were in the fenced yard at the time.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Yes, someone please address this! Our little Buff Orpingtons are 5 weeks old. They put themselves to bed (leave the run to go into the coop) all by themselves, and have for the last several night. But if I let them into the whole big. backyard (a couple of acres) I don't know that they'd even KNOW how to get back.

Also, how old do they need to be before a hawk won't carry one off?

Thank you!

A hawk can carry off a full grown chicken, so that question doesn't have an answer, I'm afraid.

I've never had just young ones as I've always had older birds in my flock along with, so I can't answer the other question. I'd just watch and, if they are going to free range, only feed them in the evening right before bedtime. That way they are in the coop at the right time and you can just shut them in until they learn where they are supposed to sleep.