New hens - How long until they know the coop is home?

[cordonbleu]

We lost our original hens to a raccoon. We now have a coop worthy of a military post. Our coop is in the middle of our barnyard and the chickens are allowed to free range. At night we shut the coop. We bought some full grown hens from a lady at the farmer's market. How long should we wait until we can let them out to free range?

 

[Preservation Acres]

I'd give them a week or two. That's more than enough time.

 

[Wifezilla]

When I got my ducks I left them locked in the pen for 2 weeks. After that, I let them freerange, but they identified the pen with "home".

 

[Chickn chick 46]

I was going to try a week with my chicks but let them out after two days because they were going nuts being inside. I know you said they were going to free range and that they are adults, which could make a difference, but I have seen chickens start to pick at each other when they are kept inside for too long.

My chicks have a fenced in yard so we had to shuffle them in the first few nights but after that they went in at dusk. Chickens have always been smarter than what I give them credit for. Take it day by day, you may be able to let them out sooner than a week or two.