What age can they free range safely?

[Ryguy3684]

If you can have a rooster, I'd recommend it for free range birds. My roosters have saved my hens, countless times, from hawk attacks. They spot them extremely quickly and send the hens to cover. We have a low predator load to begin with. Between the fenced in yard, and 2, 10 pound roosters, I don't worry much about ground attacks during the day. Just make sure to lock up the coop & run, at night. We lost one of our pullets to a hawk attack, last year, so I stopped letting them free range, unsupervised, until we got our first rooster. Their heads are always on a swivel, it's amazing watching them look after their flock.
It's never a guarantee, even with a rooster, but I don't worry about them free ranging nearly as much as I used to. The only guarantee would be a covered run that's secured like fort knox.

 

[HomeSweetFlock]

I agree with @Chickenma2021 that 8 weeks is good timing, Today was my first day letting our 9 week babies out into the ‘open’.. still fenced but out from their chicken wire roofed playpen. They’ve been out there for about 10 days to ease integration with rest of flock.. “see but no touch method”.. highly recommend.

As @Ryguy3684 points out, predators are an issue once out from cover. I was nervous and out there for most of the day with them.. [what full time job? ]