Need "Free Ranging" advice

[OCChicken]

I would like to let my Pullets out of the run to play in the yard, but I am nervouse they will get out of our fence. The back fence is cattle paneling and i'm afraid they will go through the openings and into the large treed field behind the house and i'll have a heck of a time getting them back into the run/coop. What do you suggest I do? Will they instinctively stay close to the run? Should I use food to draw them back into the run?

Thanks,
OC

 

[tracylhl]

Do they already sleep inside their cage and know that that is "bed"? If so, I *think* that with a little feed thrown their way in the evenings and knowing how to get home instinctively, they'll make their way home. Is the area clear of predators that might swoop in and make off with them?

 

[wordgirl]

After the first few days, they may wander out of your yard, but if they know where the door to their run is, they probably will come back to it to roost on their own around dusk. I'm trying to remember whether I had to hustle them back in the first few nights. They were near the coop, I'm pretty sure, because I can't really catch them when they aren't.

I may have gone out too early to put them to bed. After three or four nights, though, they were going in by themselves.

ETA: Tracy has a good point – have they been sleeping in their coop for a while?

 

[OCChicken]

They have been in the coop for 9 weeks. I put them out at 8 weeks old, and they went right up into the coop and slept on the roost on their own. So they do know where home is.

 

[gritsar]

I think they'll do alright with coming back to the coop at dusk.
My hens can get thru cattle panels and do, but my rooster can't. He's a moose.

 

[eggsforsale]

My chickens just squeeze right through cattle panel. The more they free range the more they explore. They love the freedom and exploring. They have found the garden which does not make me happy. They are eating my raspberries and the leaves on my green beans. They poop everywhere also. On the deck, the porch, etc. Free ranging is great if you don't mind chicken poop scattered around. They will come running back to the coop for grain when I call them. Just like the roadrunner. It's funny to watch. The only time I give them grain is when I call. I do have 2 chickens who sometimes give me fits trying to get them back home. They are both defective in some way. One has very bad eyes and the other is just "slow" for some reason. I should have culled them in the beginning. I would have saved me some headaches in the long run.
Anyway....yes I would expect that they will go through your cattle panel. And yes I would train them with food. Good luck!

 

[Georgia Rose]

When I let mine out I'd already taught them the "here chick chick" call with scratch. Then when I let them out I just called them back to the coop, with scratch of course, and locked them up. I now, after 8 mo. or so, don't bother, they roost on their own. I have one hen that is just now getting through the horse fence to deposit her eggs next to the front door in some over growth. Found four eggs there this afternoon. That's a total of 8 eggs and we've only caught her out twice.

And this is Tweeza by the way, not Georgia Rose who is my DD. I guess I need to check when logging on.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

My 10 week old girls started "free ranging" in the evenings about a week ago. Mine stay pretty close to the coop and if they start going beyond MY comfort zone I just kinda herd them back closer. I have noticed they are starting to go out a bit farther but I have treats ready and usually go out with them an hour or two before it gets dark because they love being "tucked in" around 8:45 every night...

 

[OCChicken]

Thanks for the tips. I just put them in our smaller yard at the back of the house, it is landscaped but wood fenced, they are having a great time scratching away, well except the SLW she is a party pooper and wont let anyone near her so she is still in the run.

 

[cmom]

When Our older birds roam we call "chicky chicky" and they come running for treats. For the younger birds we use "chick ckick" and they come running.