Should I "free range" 5week old chicks?

[Baylen]

Verlaj - I did EXACTLY the same thing! Broomstick and all - LOL! but I found they seemed to liked a yardstick better. And what you said about them slipping through the wires - true! At one point, my 4 week olds were in the dog crate and the little ones were in a washtub with a light. My son was watching the little ones hop around while I cleaned out their spot and one went right through the bars into the crate with the bigger girls! It was sooo cute. They didn't bother them at all, in fact, one of the little ones pecked at the bigger ones.

 

[MareeZoCool]

Have you let them sleep in the coop? If yes, they should be good at staying close to home. Stay outside with them, just to ward off any straying animals. I always let mine free-range. It seems to help them enjoy their chicken feed all the more!

 

[TheNat]

I let my 5 week old pullets "free range," but only when I can keep a close eye on them to watch for predators. They always stay close to me and to each other. I put them in a kennel if I have to go back inside for any reason, though. I plan on building a chicken tractor, though, so I can let them out of the brooder with less supervision.