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[Nicolebeaudry]

So we’ve got our 10 chickens!! 8 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Golden Comets, they are 5 weeks old. We got them two days ago. They are in the coop. I am un sure do we need to keep them in the coop for a few days to get used to it? Do I let them out in the mornings for food and water? I had let them out today in their run and they ate and drank and chirped around, when it was night time I had to physically put them back in the coop. Is this correct??

 

[Teila]

Hey Nicole, congrats

If they are fully feathered, it is not too cold and they have a secure run, then yep, you can let them out in their run during the day.

For the first week or so you are probably going to have to pop them in to the coop at bed time until they get the hang of it; they will though.

If you are going to let them out of the run for free range, don't do that for at least a couple of weeks so that they have learnt where 'home' is and to run back to it if feeling threatened or insecure.

 

[Nicolebeaudry]

Great thank you so much for responding. I feel like a new mom, I just want to do the right thing! They are fully feathered and the weather hasn’t been to cold for them so I have let them out in the morinings. I will keep putting them back in at night until they get the hang of it themselves.
I already love them so much, I just want them to be happy and healthy, like my real kids, my granddaughter, and my furbabies (3 dogs)