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[Artistichorse]

hi all just got my first chickens over the weekend. I even got eggs already! I bought two coops and the chickens that were living in them . The first batch came Saturday, the second yesterday. My question is, when can I let them out of the coop, I have been told not for 4 or 5 days and was told 24 hours. I’m going to let them free range if that makes a difference. I will put them up at night so I can protect them from predators.

Thanks

 

[Perris]

hello @Artistichorse ! welcome to BYC
I would keep them confined to the coop for 3 days. But you should quarantine them for longer, otherwise if either set are carrying disease it will spread to the other set. Keep them separate for at least 2 weeks, and if any show symptoms, longer until you find out what's wrong. Good luck!

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC!

 

[Artistichorse]

hello @Artistichorse ! welcome to BYC
I would keep them confined to the coop for 3 days. But you should quarantine them for longer, otherwise if either set are carrying disease it will spread to the other set. Keep them separate for at least 2 weeks, and if any show symptoms, longer until you find out what's wrong. Good luck!

They came from the same home but are in different coops, does that matter ?

 

[Artistichorse]

Ok so cant figure out how to reply, I’m on my iPad maybe this site dosnt like it lol

 

[Perris]

if they came from the same home then no, it doesn't matter; they will all have been exposed to the same pests and diseases. Sorry for worrying you unnecessarily!

 

[Shadrach]

Hello Artistichorse.
Welcome to BYC.
The breed of chicken has a bearing on how readily they will return to a coop.

 

[Mrs. K]

welcome to BYC - and the only thing I worry about when they are locked up is the heat, depending on where you are.

Do not be surprised if they quit laying for a couple of days, the eggs you got where in the chute so to speak, and moving is a stressor.

However, moving the same coop, should really help, and I am pretty sure they would be solidly homed in on that. So I think you would be safe to let them outside in the late afternoon. They should stay pretty close and return to the coop pretty easily.

Mrs.K

 

[aart]

I would leave then confined for at least a week,
then start ranging late in day(an hour before roosting time).

Why are they in 2 coops?

 

[Callender Girl]

Looks like you are getting some good advice regarding keeping them cooped; it should help that their own "houses" made the move with them, and they should return willingly at night. Since these are your first chickens, you will soon learn that what "should" happen and what "does" happen aren't always the same. Just keep a close eye on your birds when they are outdoors. Predators happen quickly and too often.

And, with the recent heat -- at least where I'm living -- keeping them cooped brings its own challenges. I have been running a box fan for the coop that houses my youngest pullets, and chilling everyone's water dishes by dropping in ice cubes throughout the day.

All that serious stuff aside, welcome to BYC. It's a great group of folks who will nearly always have answers to all of your questions and who are willing to share what they know. And, welcome to the wonderful world of raising (and sometimes, obsessing) over chickens!