How to start free ranging my hens?

[Jakrzz]

Okay so I have 12 hens (4 RR's, 4 white leghorns, 2 brown leghorns, a salmon favorelle and an unidentified hen) and and I've had then for about a year now.
They have a large cool and a large run.
But I've always wanted to get them to free range while I'm outside.
I'm just scare that they'll wander off into the woods and never come back or not go back into the coop at night.

Anyone got any ideas for me?
Like how to keep them in a certain area?

Thanks!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Well if you've kept them in the coop for a few days then they will know that the coop is their home. They should go back in by themselves!
Good Luck!

 

[Jakrzz]

Well thank you! But is there a way to keep them in a certain area in the yard because I don't want them wandering into the woods or the road or the neighbors lawn

 

[eenie114]

Well thank you! But is there a way to keep them in a certain area in the yard because I don't want them wandering into the woods or the road or the neighbors lawn

Well, if you have a rooster you can hope that he'll keep them from straying "too far." Unfortunately, the rooster will be the one deciding how far is too far, and you and he might not agree on that point. So no, without a fenced yard, they'll probably go where they want, when they want.

 

[Mrs. K]

if you are out there with them, riding herd on them, a long stick will direct them where you want. But if you don't stay with them, they will wander. At first they will stay quite close to the coop, if they have never been let out before. But within weeks, they will get braver and go farther.

Before you let them free range, get them to come to "Here chick, chick,chick" by calling that everytime you feed them.

All chickens will return to where they roosted the night before at dark. Leave the gate open, and they will be in the coop, shortly before dark.

If you free range, there is a strong possibility, that you can lose chickens to predators. That is a fact of life.

MrsK