Question about new chicks and free ranging

[Melissa Malone]

I have an existing flock of 12 ladies that are a little over a year old. I also have 9 new chicks that are 6 weeks and I just introduce them to each other and they are all doing well. The littles are in the coop and go into the large connected run area with all the bigs. Its been 5 days and they are all interacting well. I have to say that my littles that I got this time around are pretty aggressive and are able to hold their own with the bigs. I usually let my bigs out in the evening for a couple hours and at dusk they all go back into the run and into the coop. My question is how long should I wait before I let my littles out? Since the littles are in the same run, I havent let my big girls out. I did want to make sure the littles are very familiar with their "home area" before I let them out. When I do will they follow the bigs and come in at dusk? Anyway how much time is a good amount of time before I let them out? I appreciate any advice.

 

[My Bagurks]

I’d give them about a week or two total. But you can let them out now and just be there when they go in. As long as the coop and run are comfortable for them, they will most likely follow the bigs right back in, but keep an eye on them just in case.

 

[Ridgerunner]

So now six days in the run. Where do the chicks sleep at night? Do they go there on their own? I'd want them to consistently prove that they know where to sleep before I let them out.

Once they know where they are supposed to sleep I'd let them out. I don't expect them to follow the hens back in, I'd expect them to avoid the hens while they are out there. But their instinct to return to their sleeping place should bring them back.

I strongly suggest you be out there as they are going to bed. Chickens have no concept of "gate". The first night or two out I've had chickens get caught against a fence trying desperately to get back but they totally forget about that gate 15 feet away that they have been using all day. I've had to herd them to that gate (they don't want to go) so they can get to the coop. After a night or two they catch on but that shows how desperate they are to get back, they forget about everything but the shortest way back.

It was funny one time. The second night I had to do that a pullet looked back at me after she was through the gate as if saying "What took you so long!"

 

[Melissa Malone]

So now six days in the run. Where do the chicks sleep at night? Do they go there on their own? I'd want them to consistently prove that they know where to sleep before I let them out.

Once they know where they are supposed to sleep I'd let them out. I don't expect them to follow the hens back in, I'd expect them to avoid the hens while they are out there. But their instinct to return to their sleeping place should bring them back.

I strongly suggest you be out there as they are going to bed. Chickens have no concept of "gate". The first night or two out I've had chickens get caught against a fence trying desperately to get back but they totally forget about that gate 15 feet away that they have been using all day. I've had to herd them to that gate (they don't want to go) so they can get to the coop. After a night or two they catch on but that shows how desperate they are to get back, they forget about everything but the shortest way back.

It was funny one time. The second night I had to do that a pullet looked back at me after she was through the gate as if saying "What took you so long!"

They sleep in the coop and they have been going in at dusk with the big girls. In the morning my electric door opens at 6:00 am and they go out into the run with the bigs. So they have that down pretty well. I think I’ll give it a couple more days the I’ll open the gate and supervise just to make sure. The good thing is they come when I call them so that should help any littles with gate confusion I think