Taking my chicks outside

[mistydbowen]

I keep reading about people taking their chicks outside to play, and I want to try it. I let them run around the living room once while I was cleaning their brooder and they loved it, they tried flying and just ran back and forth. I have 12 chicks altogether and I'm worried that if I let them go in the yard I won't be able to catch them all. Will they try to run away? This probably sounds like a stupid question, but I'm worried about it. Maybe I should just take out a couple at a time. Some of them are pretty friendly and like to cuddle. But the 2 ducklings and the 2 brown leghorns don't really like to be held at all. They're the ones I'm most worried about. Oh and they're a week old, but I think we're going to be getting some warm days this week.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Set up a small playground, if you wish, ahead of time. You could use about anything as a corral. You're likely over thinking though. Little chicks tire fairly quickly and really cannot run off. They're reasonably timid about a new environment. At 5 weeks, our chicks like being outside their barn pen most of the day. They bop in and out. They run back in every few minutes, all by themselves.

 

[Nicole01]

I take mine out daily. Instead of taking all 12 out at a time, take a 1/2 or less for a few minutes and switch groups. Unless you have someone to help you catch them.

Mine don't stay out long. We have hawk city, so I must stand over my young ones. A coopers hawk was flying over my head in circles 2 days ago, so I quickly shooed them inside the door before catching them. They are not easy to catch in a yard.

Mine didn't stop for me until they started laying eggs and squatting. I'm adding 3 more this year, raising babies is so much fun!

 

[mistydbowen]

That's good to hear, thank you. I do over think things a lot. Our coop and run is still under construction. I think I might dig out the little fence I used for my son when he was a toddler.

Just a couple weeks ago one of our bunnies got loose and it was quite an ordeal catching her. I had to run all around the yard and through the woods by our house and got all scraped up with blackberry bushes. So I'm a little bit paranoid. But you're probably right, chicks don't have as much energy as bunnies.

(I've been waiting for a chance to use that bunny lol)

You're chicks are adorable by the way!

They look so happy outside.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Set up a small playground, if you wish, ahead of time. You could use about anything as a corral. You're likely over thinking though. Little chicks tire fairly quickly and really cannot run off. They're reasonably timid about a new environment. At 5 weeks, our chicks like being outside their barn pen most of the day. They bop in and out. They run back in every few minutes, all by themselves.



Mine are timid as well. Yup, you might be over thinking things. I built a run for mine and even though when they were first let into the run that first time they actually would rather had stayed on my leg and up against me then to move around much, LOL!

 

[CarolJ]

I bought a roll of inexpensive plastic fencing at Home Depot. I used the fencing and some metal fence poles to make a "playpen" for the chicks. I can put it up in about 3 or 4 minutes and take it down easily, too. It was tall enough that they couldn't fly over it - but it allowed them plenty of room to run around, practice flying and generally enjoy being outside. I always would set my lawn chair next to it and enjoy watching them. They loved it. When they got older and able to fly out of it, I put more of the plastic fencing over the top - just laid it across the top after I put them inside. Worked great and was easy as could be.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I started a bunch in a pet carrier, I would take that outside and put up a temp fence. I kept food and water inside the carrier, they learned pretty quick the carrier is the safe place and would hide inside and roost there. I just think its so much healthier for them to be running around outside, less for me to clean up too! My pen was just chicken wire in a circle with the bottom stuck in the ground.

 

[Izzymoon]

I took mine out for the first time yesterday and they seemed to enjoy it. I put one up in the coop and she came down the ramp It threatened a storm so we had to go back inside. But I think once that time comes, they will fine

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Here was my chicks first day out of the coop exploring their surroundings!!