There are individuals that hang around, maybe get underfoot, amongst your chickens, right? They take a real interest in you and not just in what you have to feed them, right? Let those birds out first and leave the remainder "behind bars." You'll probably find that if there's only a few outside the pen, those few will stay real close to the fence. And, if they are the ones that you can walk right up to - you'll probably be able to do that out in the yard, as well. Allowing them out shortly before dark means that when the others head indoors, the lucky few want back in the pen and back to their roosts also. Be kind and don't make them beg
.
These birds should have time to familiarize themselves with the great outdoors before the entire flock finds itself out there. (And, you find yourself wondering if they will disappear over the horizon, never to be seen again
!) They will have a calming influence on the newly-released and be able to show them all the best places to scratch or take a dust bath. They also will have time to familiarize themselves with the neighbor's dog on the other side of the fence and realize that they don't need to shoot up in a tree at the sight of him.
The "chicken call" is a good idea or maybe they all come running when they see you with a pan (in my case, a plastic bag
). That's all that it takes to get the birds back in their pen in my backyard. If they have to go back multiple times throughout the day - they get a little something each and every time. They also let me know when they want to visit their nests. Being outdoors with them becomes critical so they don't feel the need to find a nest amongst the shrubbery.
My small and changing flock over the years has been out frequently throughout the day. The rule is, they can be out only when someone is with them. Leaving them to themselves amounts to only the time that it takes to go in to get an ice tea out of the fridge. In good weather, we are often in the backyard - sometimes for hours at a time. And in bad weather, they may go for a few weeks without being invited out of their henyard - they don't much like the snow, anyway
.
Steve
These birds should have time to familiarize themselves with the great outdoors before the entire flock finds itself out there. (And, you find yourself wondering if they will disappear over the horizon, never to be seen again
!) They will have a calming influence on the newly-released and be able to show them all the best places to scratch or take a dust bath. They also will have time to familiarize themselves with the neighbor's dog on the other side of the fence and realize that they don't need to shoot up in a tree at the sight of him.The "chicken call" is a good idea or maybe they all come running when they see you with a pan (in my case, a plastic bag
My small and changing flock over the years has been out frequently throughout the day. The rule is, they can be out only when someone is with them. Leaving them to themselves amounts to only the time that it takes to go in to get an ice tea out of the fridge. In good weather, we are often in the backyard - sometimes for hours at a time. And in bad weather, they may go for a few weeks without being invited out of their henyard - they don't much like the snow, anyway
Steve
