letting chickens run free?

[chicksrocka]

at what age can I let my chickens out in the day? will they come back to roost? my chickens are 8 weeks old. also, at what age can I start feeding them scratch? thanks!

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
AM I hearing you say you just want to open the gate and let them go?
I hope not...
Freedom is not really what chickens need. There is often more harm than good waiting for them out there.

 

[njones]

Mine are about 9 weeks old and have been free ranging for a couple of weeks now. They never go too far from the coop and always go back into the coop to eat, drink and they go in on their own in the evening...put themselves to bed. I was told by a guy who raises chickens to always feed and water them in the coop to start, so they get used to going in and out on their own. So far I have had no problems.

I am around pretty much all day to keep an eye on them.

 

[Mahonri]

Only let out the chickens to free range that you don't mind losing.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Thank you - well said.

 

[chicksrocka]

not free range as in, they get the whole neighborhood to run around in, they will be in the back yard with a five foot fence around it. what about that?

 

[Renee']

My BO's started sharing the fenced (5') backyard with my dog at about 8 weeks old. I have several large trees for shelter and they were very happy to roam, stretch, scratch and explore. It also gave them protected (though the fence) exposure to the big chickens in the big back yard.

 

[foweler]

I waited about a month after I got them which made them 8 weeks.

My fences are 6' but no one has flown that high yet.

I open the coop and run first thing and close them up just after sundown but they roam the backyard all day.

The dog and cat are used to them so the only things I worry about during the day are neighbor cats and hawks.

Both would have to be pretty brave because the yard isn't huge and the dog is in and out all of the time.
The chickens do a good job of staying under some type of cover too.

 

[citrusdreams]

Mine are ten weeks old and I've been free ranging them for a few weeks now from dusk till dawn. I haven't lost one yet. They're free ranging with the rest of my chickens. Our rather large house dogs go in and out freely.

I haven't lost a chicken or guinea in a while -- since I told the neighbors I would shoot their dogs on sight if I saw them on my property.

So I would say that yes, yours are old enough to free range.

Mine are eating scratch as a treat, if they want it. It's there for them all free choice when I have it. Otherwise they get layer mash right now, and of course, all the bugs, and stuff that they want

And yes, they all turn in on their own at dusk.

 

[cindyanne1]

I let mine out in the yard to roam around for a few hours in the evenings if the weather is fit. They have a run but they really look forward to their "free time." It's usually from about 7pm until they go in to roost on their own and I shut the doors. I'm generally outside then too... I've put the toddler to bed and that's when I go outside to do my weeding and yardwork. The chickens will generally follow me around the yard, lol.

The ones I let out are two months old and one month old. I also have some younger ones that I put out in a big outside playpen that I used for my kids: http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog...Id=85183&categoryId=85215&subCategoryId=86205
I put it in the shade of a tree with food and water and they are out most of the day and love it!

I think as long as the weather is fit and warm enough, and as long as the chicks have most of their feathers, it doesn't hurt to let them out into an enclosed space.