Newbie question

[Ddurlak]

If you raise your chicks and move them to an enclosed coop where they remain all the time, will they return to the coop in the evening if they are let out to roam free? And if so how old should they be before letting them out?

As you can tell I don't have any birds yet. I'm in the process of gathering coop materials and I'm planning on getting the chicks in about a month.

 

[newchicksnducks]

Once your chicks are old enough to stay outside, you will want to keep them inside the coop for a week or more. This sort of "imprints" on their little brains that this is a safe place of food and safety. I did not free range mine till they were several months old. I kept my girls in the coop and run only until they were about 4-5 months old. Then I only free ranged about an hour or two before dusk, so they did not travel too far from the coop. Now I let them out in the late afternoon and they put themselves to bed before dark...I just have to lock up the coop. (I average 10-13 eggs a day from my 13 hens...the one day I let them free range all day, I only got 4 eggs....hmmm, someone(s) was too lazy to make it back to the coop to lay!

So I wait till late afternoon when all laying is usually done for the day)

 

[abanjaf]

I currently let my 6 week olds free range in the evening with the "adults". Everyone returns to the coop around dusk. However, if starting out with new babies, I would not let them free range until they are 4-5 months old (perhaps even older depending on breed and size). During this time, they learn the coop is their home and haven and also allows them to reach a "safer" size for free-ranging. I have problems with hawks in my area, my roos take their job seriously, but if it wasn't for them I would not allow the "babies" out until they were much larger.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

You've gotten some great advice here. I really can't improve on it. So much depends on your weather and predators. Common sense is in order. Wishing you the best with your chicks! Exciting, isn't it?