I did it!

[pixiechick]

I finally got up the courage to let my chickens out of the run into the backyard for a little while before bedtime.... and they went back up without a problem! I'm still way to paranoid to leave them out completely unsupervised but at least I'll be getting more yardwork done.

 

[gritsar]

Good for you! It's very hard not to be overprotective of them. My chicks are now 13 weeks old and even though their main predator (our cat) is locked up in the house while they roam, I still sit outside with them. I even jump up and check everytime I see them put something new in their mouths. It's worse than having a 2 year old human peep.
P.S. I don't get a thing done while mine are roaming and I'm babysitting, but isn't it a wonderful excuse?