What age to allow chicks to roam the yard?

[MBGone]

I made a playpen out of leftover screen and have had my babies out in the grass as early as a week old.
View attachment 1767861 View attachment 1767862

those babies look tiny in the open area.
I'm looking forward to mine venturing out first time this weekend. Thanks for the input.

 

[MBGone]

I start at approximately two weeks. Completely supervised. They've had plenty of time in their baby coop by then so they will return to it for safety when frightened.

To get them back in, I can either shut the door when they all return for a drink or when something startles them or I can herd them back and they'll run inside.

I'm working now on returning for scratch training (5-6 weeks) at the same time they're nearing full acceptance into the adult flock (they all range at once so the littles get their beak-to-beak interaction time this way).

They're just about ready to merge! The adults have accepted them, they just need to realize the adults aren't trying to kill them anymore.

My first batch was started in a typical brooder box and I have plenty of memories of barricades and chasing chicks. The kids even had to crawl under the deck to retrieve one that flew over the barricade.

LOL chasing chicks
That doesn't sound like fun..
I'm confident that I will have my own stories to pass on eventually, bound to screw up in working with little bodies that have their own brains and don't speak my language.
Thank you for sharing.

 

[MBGone]

I let mine run free at 6 weeks but they get daily outings in the chick pen at two weeks.
I am here 24/7 and set my pen where I can see and hear from the house and i'm also aware of where the shade is and isn't during the day.
The chick pen is pvc pipe with yardgard plastic fence zip tied to the sides and top it is 5X5X5 so I can stand up in there and the chicks can flap till doomsday.View attachment 1767273

I like the simple design. Weather proof and easy to move. Very nice.

 

[imnukensc]

These chicks were in the run at a little over 2 weeks and free ranging right at 5 weeks.

 

[Stacyoung13]

those babies look tiny in the open area.
I'm looking forward to mine venturing out first time this weekend. Thanks for the input.

They are silkie babies with a couple polish

 

[MBGone]

These chicks were in the run at a little over 2 weeks and free ranging right at 5 weeks.View attachment 1768585 View attachment 1768586

Thank you. I like the size of your coop. Nice setup ya got there.

 

[imnukensc]

Thank you. I like the size of your coop. Nice setup ya got there.

Thanks! That was basically just the run. Have made a few improvements since then. Run is now fully covered with galvanized roofing and added an ADOR1 to it so I didn't have to go let them out of the run and close it up at night. Coop is 5X5 and run is 16X8. The birds free range daily from about 9:30 AM until they put themselves to roost.

 

[bluemorpho]

Wow, thank you all for the kind responses. This is so much great information!
My new flock turned 2 weeks yesterday so each day I'm seeing noticeable changes and the questions just come flooding through my mind. I certainly take these little lives that are in my care seriously and you peeps have helped in so many ways.
So to answer a previous question. I have an open yard within a large wooded area here in central Virginia. I have the usual mix of foxes, raccoons, possums, snakes, coyotes in the shadows and my biggest concern is a (local for many years) family of Redtail hawks.
The yard is unfenced at this point so I would never allow them outside without full supervision. I'm still pondering the overhead threat...
It looks like I'll soon be a regular at the local hardware stores fencing/netting section.

Since I'm on the subject are hawks a threat to all age birds or just the little ones?

Thank you again, and peace to you all today.

 

[teresa toth]

At what age should chicks be introduced to the yard even if it's only for a few minutes or hours?
When can they eat bugs, grass etc?

We started letting them out into a penned area at 2 weeks as days are 68-80 degrees now. they could still go back into their heat source, but none of them did. They have a foot high wall and a bunch of tomato cages to thwart overhead attack, and the dogs stay with them, and the cats are shut up in the house (dogs will chase any strange cats away and might deter hawks). dogs are well trained wi regard to chickens, so that helps. They ignore them generally and would likely defend them if push came to shove. I don't sit with them. They are alone for hours, with the dogs.

 

[Wel/Rk]

At what age should chicks be introduced to the yard even if it's only for a few minutes or hours?
When can they eat bugs, grass etc?

At what age should chicks be introduced to the yard even if it's only for a few minutes or hours?
When can they eat bugs, grass etc?