Out of the coop

[MischickenNY]

Hey y’all, just wondering how long in the coop before letting them roam. It’s been about one week maybe a little longer.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

How many weeks old are they?

 

[MischickenNY]

8-9

 

[Ridgerunner]

What is your concern? Them disappearing into the distance? Them not returning to the coop at night? Something else? Will they be roaming in an enclosed area like a run or maybe a fenced back yard or will they have miles and miles to roam in? Are they roosting yet? Roosting means spending the night on your roosts, not just playing on them during the day. It's easier for me to answer a question if I know what question is being asked and something about the relevant conditions. That's why the questions.

If you trust a fence to keep them in they won't disappear in the distance. They probably won't anyway unless something frightens them like a dog or kid chasing them.

If they are roosting in the coop at night on the roost there is a real good chance they will return there to sleep at night. Real good. After a week in there they might return at night anyway but it's less sure. That looks like it is at ground level, I think that helps your odds of them returning at night. I often have issues with my elevated grow-out coop, they tend to sleep on the ground outside at the base of the pop door.

 

[MischickenNY]

What is your concern? Them disappearing into the distance? Them not returning to the coop at night? Something else? Will they be roaming in an enclosed area like a run or maybe a fenced back yard or will they have miles and miles to roam in? Are they roosting yet? Roosting means spending the night on your roosts, not just playing on them during the day. It's easier for me to answer a question if I know what question is being asked and something about the relevant conditions. That's why the questions.

If you trust a fence to keep them in they won't disappear in the distance. They probably won't anyway unless something frightens them like a dog or kid chasing them.

If they are roosting in the coop at night on the roost there is a real good chance they will return there to sleep at night. Real good. After a week in there they might return at night anyway but it's less sure. That looks like it is at ground level, I think that helps your odds of them returning at night. I often have issues with my elevated grow-out coop, they tend to sleep on the ground outside at the base of the pop door.

Well they are not roosting in the nesting boxes and at night they are all huddled up in the huddle box in the corner because overnight temperatures have been a bit cold. It’s a raised coop, about 12-18 inches up. My concern is them not going back into the coop as they will be free roaming.

Side note how do I get them to start roosting and/or using the nesting boxes?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Obviously you don't want them sleeping in the nest boxes. I think you mean how do they know to lay in them when they start. I put a fake egg in them (I use golf balls) to help show them what the nests are for. Also I have the nests open so they can find them when they are ready to lay.

My brooder-raised chicks typically start roosting around 10 to 12 weeks of age. I've had some start as early as 5 weeks, some take longer, but 10 to 12 weeks is a good average. You can do it the way I do, be patient. They figure it out. But in your case it might be beneficial to train them to use the roosts. I trust your coop is pretty dark. After it gets dark and using as little light as you safely can set then up on the roosts. If it is dark they should not jump back down. They should catch on pretty quickly. Then you can let them out. That should take care of your concern.

It's still possible they will not return to inside the coop at night (though they should), but they should return to the coop area. If it is dark they should be fairly easy to catch. Just lock them in the coop. They should catch on pretty quickly. With living animals and their behaviors I don't give guarantees but I don't think you'll have any problems if you can get them roosting on the roosts before you let them out.