New to chickens, hens are 16 weeks old

[Eastsidechicken]

Howdy-

This is my first ever flock, I have 3 hens and 2 Roosters all bought at the same time. So far the boys are getting along but not sure for how long. That is another discussion but for right now my questions are concerning the following:

We let them free range on about 5 acres and they go back into the coop at night. If they start laying will they know to go back into the coop to do this or will they get lay where ever on the property? Should I coop them up until they start to lay?

Another question is one of the Roosters "got some" today. Does that mean that he is now Alpha Roo? Has he helped get that hen to start laying sooner?

Thank you in advance.

Eastsidechicken

 

[mortie]

Do you have an enclosed run? I don't know where you live, but my girls would get awfully hot if I locked them in the coop. Mine are 15w1d and they free range but I am planning on keeping them in the run more when they get close...but the coop would be too hot I think.

Your roo mounting the hen doesn't make him the alpha, nor will it help your hen lay sooner but that doesn't mean he isn't the #1 roo and that she isn't close...it's just his actions don't cause either of those things to happen. They're more a sign OF one or both of them being true already.

 

[Eastsidechicken]

We do have an enclosed run but my husband thought it would be fine to let them roam too. I am not a fan of this all the time but they do come back if I have food. However I don't think they are drinking enough. Although they have access to water outside of their run I'm not sure they are taking advantage. So I give them watermellon and other things juicy throughout the day. We are in Nor Cal and its hot here and dry.

Thanks for your answer, I think keeping them in the run at least until they learn might make me feel better.

 

[mortie]

I have a decent sized run but mine free range a lot of the time as well. I was just concerned about you keeping them locked inside a coop. My coop would be like an oven without the nice breeze that goes through the run.

I'm going to restrict the free ranging as soon as I feel like laying is getting really close. Maybe an hour or so late in the day or something. I'm sure they're going to hold in their eggs for another month or so...