Letting the chicks out of the coop?

[TucksMama]

I'm new to this chicken raising. I have eight five week old chicks and I would like to introduce them to the outside world. Right now they live in our outdoor coop with a run. They are a little skittish of various things so I'm afraid if I let them roam around the farm they will run off or head over to the neighbors. When I go into the run most of them come up to me but there are a couple that are afraid enough to stay inside the coop.
Should I wait until they get a little older or do you think they will stay near the coop? I would hate to lose any of them.

Thanks.

 

[Keltara]

I always started free ranging my chicks at the age of 6 weeks. Your girls won't go too far from their coop at first. They will do what is comfortable to them. In the evening, they will ALWAYS come home to roost. Since you've had them locked up in their coop, they'll know right where to come. Have you been letting them out into their run at least? If not, I would recommend you put their food and water in the run so they are encouraged to come out. I always leave our food and water in the run. I only want the girls in the coop to lay an egg or sleep. That way, it's less messy up there. Prior to my free ranging them, my kids would play with them outside so they were getting the fresh greens and bugs from a very young age.

Kelly

✿​

Our Country Chronicles

✿​

​

 

[Mattemma]

Set up a fence around the coop. Some 4 foot plastic fencing,6 foot bamboo poles,and zip ties. You can even drape some bird netting over the top to slow down hawks.Easy to move the fencing as needed. I had my hens out at around 8 or 10 weeks of age.Always fenced and I was near in case of dogs and hawks.

 

[TucksMama]

Thank you so much for the good advice. I'm going to try next week when I have some time off. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Thebazilly]

I have some chicks about the same age that I just started free ranging. I kept them in their coop for a week, and now I let them out from time to time when I have a few hours to keep an eye on them. They stay pretty close to the coop, and walk right back in when it gets dark out.

I just like to make sure the dog isn't chasing them when she's outside, and none of them get killed by the red-tailed hawks that live around here. The coop's close enough to the house that I'm not too worried about other predators.