How should I start doing it and at what age also how do i get them in the coop at night I have chickens and ducks about a month old
Mine all go in at night all by themselves, I only free range in the evening just for this reason...as soon as they go to roost at night they should be old enough. Although my Youngest two decided to roost on top of the aframe run the first night but we just put them right in on the roost. I always keep an eye on them though. At a month old I would just put them in a play yard or other enclosure. And definitely don't leave them unattended thy are pretty helpless.
I've never tried free ranging before about 4 months. I just figured they would be too tempting to predators when small. After they've been living in a coop/run for that long they consider it home and just go back on their own at dusk. The first few nights I usually coax them back in the run with some treats and then lock them in, but it's quite likely that's unnecessary. I've never had issues with them not wanting to go back.I did have the gate on my run blow shut one afternoon and I went out after dark, to close things up and they were scattered all over hiding out in bushes and stuff. That was a pain. I now block the gate to prevent that. I let mine out when I get home from work and then go close the gate on their run at dark. Works for me
I let mine go out to play during the day at 1 week - and every day I was off and it was sunny. I've since moved them to their outside coop. Now they free range (when I'm off and can watch them) and they are 6 weeks. Took them only one day to figure out where their new home was and they always put themselves to bed at night.
