Silly question from a newbie....how fast do meaties move?

[lakeontariochicks]

It's finally warm and dry enough here to let the meaties outside for a bit this weekend. They are 3 and 4 weeks old.
I have no idea how to get them outside(they are in the back of the garage) except to open the end of the box and herd them out!
Just curious as to how fast they can move now, can they fly high or far?
I worry about one of them taking off and me not being able to catch him/her!!
Is that a possibility?
Thanks!

 

[blueskylen]

they can move pretty fast - when motivated. i have a small run for them to go out of the coop - out of 60 only 12 have been brave enough to go outside - once they get out there they love it and i have to crawl under the netting to put them back in - it's only 2foot high, as they wont go back up the ramp by themselves.

 

[Oxfordmom]

We are newbies as well! Our meaties live in a brooder in our basement. They are 4 weeks old. As weather permits we like to turn them outside to a temporary pen. We only have 9 birds and there are 5 of us. One of us man's the gate to the pen and the rest of us carry them out. It takes a few minutes but it is fun! When the temp starts to drp we do it all over again in reverse!

 

[KatieH]

At that age they can move fairly fast. When I was transporting mine, I put them in batches in a big plastic bin and walked them out back.

 

[uhuh555]

They are very trainable. Find some treat they go crazy over and each time you give it to them whistle. Before long they will come running each time you whistle. Most dual/meat birds can't fly more than a few feet or jump over 3 ft high, just too heavy. They can be easily herded using a couple 4-5 ft long sticks (one in each hand). Simply block the ways you don't want them to go and they will always go the path of least resistance. The longer you keep chickens the easier it will seem.

Good luck.

 

[ol_grayfeather]

Quote:
I do this with my chickens, non-meaties. My daughter thought they were trying to attack me. She thought they "knew" I had treats for them. If they're far way a few will fly towards me to try and beat the others. Its pretty funny to watch them run, they look like the dinasours on the movie Jurassic Park.

 

[Chicken411]

Speaking of meaties running.....

 

[aclee]

Mine run just like that video, except they like to trudge up the little tiny hill in the yard, and then run down it trying to catch air...it's hysterical. Basketballs with wings.

 

[jaku]

They can certainly move fast enough that they are difficult to catch. They won't move far from the food, though.