New guy, starting fresh

[sixsix]

Hey, new guy here from south Louisiana. Just picked up 6 pullets that are between 6-8 weeks old. I didn't really want to mess with day old baby chicks (maybe next time) so I went this route instead. I got 1 Ayan Cemani, 2 lavender Marans, 2 Ameraucana's and 1 Cream Legbar (I might have the legbar and the amaraucana's mixed up, I forgot which one was which) And they should be all hens, hopefully. I had 6 older hens when I moved into my house about a year ago that the previous owners left, but they were pretty much free range and didn't really have a coop of any sort and they ended up getting ate by something. So I decided to build a completely fenced in run area which came out to be 10x24 and attached it to a shed yard medium coop. So hopefully these will stay safe.

So a question... Since they are about 8 weeks old, am I ok to leave the door open to the run and let them come and go as they please? I haven't let them out of the coop yet cause it has been raining but I plan to let them out tomorrow when I wake up.

 

[chckndaddy]

You could definitely let them out into the run if that's what you meant. But if you meant let them out into the yard to free range then you could do that too, it's up to you. I prefer to wait on free ranging my chicks until they are off chick starter (usually about 16 weeks old). This is just what I do though. I just like to keep them in the run until they are used to it and won't wander off.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Yes on the run, but I would be hesitant to free range them just yet. They are perfect bite sized for hawks. Nice pen and coop set up.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Let 'em out! They typically stick close to the coop until they gain confidence to explore further.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome! Glad that you joined! Good luck with the new chick flock!

 

[Cwestlake]

Beautiful chicks you have! Welcome! To BYC

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens mind telling us the size of that coop ?

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Cute chicks! You can let them out, just keep a close eye on them, they are hawk bait for sure!

Enjoy your babies!

 

[sixsix]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens mind telling us the size of that coop ?

I got it from tractor supply during a sale so I got a decent amount off on it plus free shipping, but it’s made by OverEZ, if I had to guess it’s probably about 4ftx4ft.

Thanks for the warm welcome. I just meant to let them out in the run for now. The coop is inside of another 80x80 fenced in area with lots of trees but I don’t plan on letting them out in there for a while.