Is it okay to allow my chicks to free range?

[efowl24]

I’m new to chicken keeping, and have 7 chicks who will be 9 weeks in two days. They’ve been in the coop and have had access to the run since day 2. They put themselves up at night reliably and let themselves out in the morning. I’ve been letting them out while I’m at the coop cleaning it, doing maintenance etc for the past week for 30ish minutes at a time, and they pretty well stick around the coop and run and don’t really stray very far. My main concern is it’s like they don’t always remember where the door is. They see the run through the hardware cloth, and haven’t yet grasped the concept that they need to walk back around the run to go in the door. They usually go to bed around 7:30, which I thought was early but that’s when they want to go to bed lol. My point is, it’s still light for another hour or so when they go to bed, so less risk for predators. When do you all let your new flock out? I’ll likely only let them out when I’m home in evenings and on the weekends.

 

[Mrs. K]

Just like you, a little at a time. If you get in the habit of shaking a scant amount of scratch and tossing it in, they quickly come.

Thing is it is a risk, I try not to do it at the same time, or every day, just to keep the predators guessing. If you do get hit, go into lock down for several weeks to make the predators move on.

 

[Ecarroll]

You definitely can do it now, start with supervised outdoor time (like your doing now ) then eventually just let them out alone. They will eventually find the door, as my grandpa used to say, you can keep a chicken fenced in with just one piece of fencing, , cause that just keep pacing back and forth. But they will get it eventually.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My main concern is it’s like they don’t always remember where the door is.

I consider that a legitimate concern. When mine are ready to go to roost, they are ready. Occasionally the first few times I let them out a few try to get to the coop but they are not at the gate. They go directly toward the coop door but run into the run fence. They totally forget about the gate they have used a few times that day although it is only 15 to 20 feet away. It does not happen to all of them, it does not happen every time.

I suggest you be there about bedtime and herd any that can't find the gate to the gate. I've had to do that one or two nights before they got the message and remember where the gate is and what it is for. With most groups it is not necessary but occasionally it is. They are so intent on getting to the roosts they can't handle anything else.

 

[efowl24]

I consider that a legitimate concern. When mine are ready to go to roost, they are ready. Occasionally the first few times I let them out a few try to get to the coop but they are not at the gate. They go directly toward the coop door but run into the run fence. They totally forget about the gate they have used a few times that day although it is only 15 to 20 feet away. It does not happen to all of them, it does not happen every time.

I suggest you be there about bedtime and herd any that can't find the gate to the gate. I've had to do that one or two nights before they got the message and remember where the gate is and what it is for. With most groups it is not necessary but occasionally it is. They are so intent on getting to the roosts they can't handle anything else.

I’ve thought about letting them out an hour before bedtime to have fun in the yard, and going down there around bedtime to make sure they actually go up. The coop is 400ft from my house and down a hill, but I can mostly keep an eye on them from the house. They’re very good about knowing where their little coop door is, but the gate on the run they really struggle. It’s kinda odd, if they’re on the front side of the run where the gate is, they and typically find it without issues, but if they’re on any other side they just don’t know what to do lol, poor things

 

[efowl24]

You definitely can do it now, start with supervised outdoor time (like your doing now ) then eventually just let them out alone. They will eventually find the door, as my grandpa used to say, you can keep a chicken fenced in with just one piece of fencing, , cause that just keep pacing back and forth. But they will get it eventually.

That’s so true poor things just run back and forth right beside the door on the run when it’s just a little bit away from them. I try luring them with treats, but they just see the treats through the hardware cloth and pace faster

 

[No Coop No Problem]

My hens abandon their young at about one month of age on average. The really devoted moms sometimes take two months. 9 weeks is pretty old to be not be outside yet

I would take things slowly and cautiously, keeping an eye on them for a while because they aren't used to the outdoors yet

 

[C Siena]

I’m new to chicken keeping, and have 7 chicks who will be 9 weeks in two days. They’ve been in the coop and have had access to the run since day 2. They put themselves up at night reliably and let themselves out in the morning. I’ve been letting them out while I’m at the coop cleaning it, doing maintenance etc for the past week for 30ish minutes at a time, and they pretty well stick around the coop and run and don’t really stray very far. My main concern is it’s like they don’t always remember where the door is. They see the run through the hardware cloth, and haven’t yet grasped the concept that they need to walk back around the run to go in the door. They usually go to bed around 7:30, which I thought was early but that’s when they want to go to bed lol. My point is, it’s still light for another hour or so when they go to bed, so less risk for predators. When do you all let your new flock out? I’ll likely only let them out when I’m home in evenings and on the weekends.

We begin by letting them out in the evening, when I am there watching. One hour first evening, 2 hours second. I'm still with them and third evening several hours, with me checking and not there. 4th day out all day. This is easier for me as I have pullets that are only 3 weeks older and adults, that they follow into the coop after the adults.
They are old enough.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Mine took forever to remember that there was even a door, much less where it is! All three are besties with one another, and if one was in and the others out, it was hysterics as they ran back and forth, trying to reunite.

They did finally figure it out, and they now put themselves in the run if it starts to rain, if there’s a loud street noise, if it’s hot, or just before it starts to get dark.

They like to hang out in the run for an hour or so, eating any last bits of food and sitting on the run perches, commenting on whatever it is that they comment on, and then put themselves to bed. I’m still amazed at this.