if I let them out of the coop?

[princessmama]

Quote:
That's good to know. Ours are 5 1/2 weeks. Their coop is almost ready (it's an old one we are fixing up). For now they have a rabbit cage in the bathroom at night. During the day they have a 3-hole rabbit cage that we cut the bottom out of, so they can be on the grass without getting lost or becoming a stray cat snack.

I knew to lock them in the coop for several days so they know it's home before letting them out. But I didn't think about letting them get used to freedom gradually. Good idea tho.

They are so funny when we let them into their outside cage in the morning. They'll hop out of the laundry basket we carry them out in and fly into their cage

Then they practice flying back and forth...

 

[Britchick]

Hi,

I have only just been letting my babies out this week too. I have eight chicks and they range from 5 weeks to 7 weeks in age.

I have not put the fencing up for the run yet but I have been utilyzing my green house and it works great.

We built our coop inside my garden shed/barn and the shed has an adjoining greenhouse that hasn't been used for anything but for storing the lawn furniture. The greenhouse has a dirt floor and weeds are growing in it. It wasn't used much until now.

My chicks were getting restless and fed up in the coop so I closed my sliding shed door and opened the french doors leading to the greenhouse. Then I opened the coop door and sat back in my chair and observed my crazy chicks exploring for the first time. What a hoot! They were scared of the dirt at first then once their confidence grew they owned the green house and the shed.

Once I get the run fenced then we will cut the chicken exit door out and make the pop door from the coop to the outside run. I just bought the posts and atleast I don't have to rush and they are safe while they have fun. Good use for an old green house.

I love chickens : )

 

[Kim_NC]

We let ours out unsupervised. They have a fenced in area using 3 ft chicken wire, like a very large yard. However, they stay close to the coop for a long time. We make sure they have a shade area available.

I check on them twice each afternoon and supply fresh cold water.