Transitioning to Outdoors

[Rein Quest]

When do you let your chickens into the run?

I've read about 2-7 days of locked in the coop but it doesn't sound like it's a science.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

When do you let your chickens into the run?

I've read about 2-7 days of locked in the coop but it doesn't sound like it's a science.

In a setup like that, with an enclosed run, I leave the coop open, dawn to dusk, from the start. Locking them in the coop is unnecessary (and potentially problematic with the minicoops like that). You may have to go out near dusk the first few days, gently get them into the coop portion and close the opening so they learn to go to roost.

 

[Rein Quest]

Thanks. I've been thinking that I should have them in the run. Especially with the weather seeming like we skipped spring. I'll get them out after work and make sure they go back inside.

Later when I have the garden penned in I figured they'd know what the roost was.

 

[RWise]

All they have to do is learn where the home roost is and where the feed is. I dont put feed or water in the coop, it calls bad things.
So for me to add a few birds, I put them in private quarters so they can see and chat with the flock. After a few days i move them at night to the coop, and watch closely the next morning. Never had an issue,, oh ya, I only run 1 rooster on the flock.
Call it training,,,LOL

 

[Rein Quest]

It's interesting you say that about the food. Other people advise against it outside mainly for two reasons.

Food outside attracts rodents.

Wet food grows mold.

My thought was food inside and water out.

 

[lazy gardener]

My plan is to never leave food outside (and preferably not in coop either) at night. I use fermented feed, which also helps prevent rodents from eating it. If there is food left over at the end of the day, I cover it, move it into the broody pen, or depending on weather, I bring it inside.

I would not shut birds in a mini coop like that b/c of fear of them getting overheated. Keep them in the coop/run set up for a few days before allowing them out for supervised free range.

 

[RWise]

My birds free range, I do not put out pans of food, inside or outside, they have plenty of pasture. For bad weather I do increase what they are tossed, other than that they go scratch..

 

[Rein Quest]

I'm going to have to look up fermented food. I've been trying to locate a local feed store because I was thinking about buying more of a bulk than bag food from a place like tractor supply.

So far I must not be using the right keywords.

 

[Rein Quest]

My birds free range, I do not put out pans of food, inside or outside, they have plenty of pasture. For bad weather I do increase what they are tossed, other than that they go scratch..

Wish I could do that but I don't have enough room. Also two of them are descendant from ISA Brown and likely couldn't survive without a proper feed to go with pasturing.

 

[ronott1]

Locking them into the coop re homes them faster. Putting them into the coop each evening takes 7-10 days.

either way works fine!