Part time range free

[Zores Mother]

Good day to all,

I have 8 orpington chickens and this is the very first time I have ever had chickens. I have only had them about 3 months. They have a nice run and a coop. My question is, If if decide to let them out for an hour or so to explore in the grass, (every now and then) with my supervision, will I have a hard time getting them back in the run?

Thank you for any helpful comments.

 

[junebuggena]

Probably not. Mine range over about a half acre for most of the day. Most of the time I just need to walk outside with the container of scratch and they follow me anywhere. The first couple of days, they might not go far from the coop at all.

 

[FridayYet]

The first time you let them out, do it about an hour before sunset and they should just go back in and put themselves to bed!

Also, train them to come. I call chick,chick,chick and throw out some treats. Now all I have to do is call and they come running from all directions!

 

[Zores Mother]

great, thank you for the info.

 

[Zores Mother]

Thank; you for the input. I will try this over the next few days.

 

[Zores Mother]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I have been letting the girls out for about 20 minutes at a time and they absolutely love it. They are really pretty easy to round up and get back in the run. I'm learning how to catch them if needed. I love my girls.

 

[Cacique500]

We do what FridayYet suggested. Train them to come to you (with treats...we use dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae or dried meal worms). I can round them up at any time in about 10 seconds flat

 

[Zores Mother]

Thank you, I am learning that when I shake the treat bag, they come running.

 

[FridayYet]

Thank you, I am learning that when I shake the treat bag, they come running.

LOL, it really doesn't take long. Now mine come running just to see if I have brought anything, even if my hands are empty!