What age to allow chicks to roam the yard?

[Wel/Rk]

I usually let them out about 8 weeks. I let the older layers free range all day long. I have a dog that protects against bigger prey but does not protect against Hawks. I wait till 8 weeks till they are old enough to get away from the the older hens in case they are picked on. I usually feed them in their own coop before letting them out. I usually start letting them out late in the day for 2 hours and gradually increase the time.

 

[Wendee]

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?

When the chicks are feathered out and temp. is above 75 degrees.

 

[Mtnboomer]

I started my chicks (11) indoors, because of the cold, in a 75 gal aquarium. When the weather broke, they were then moved to the garage into a custom built enclosure (about 3'x6') at 5 wks. They are now 9 wks and in 2 enclosures (stacked). My established flock is made up of 7 fully mature (10-11lbs) free range Brahmas that are very strict about being in charge when new birds are introduced. So the chicks will not be cooped up with the adults until they are 4 months and big enough to take a little beating. We do not have a run or fencing of any kind so once they are free to roam, they are on their own to come home at night to avoid the army of predators.
Our last orpington roosters were 4 mos old when we did the same process and the adapted quickly and very well.
Before then, I would not let them out without being contained. Warm, sunny days preferred. And once feathers begin replacrep the down.

 

[Trevorusn]

Mine are all between 4-5 weeks old. While they are still in the chick corral, they have already had at least 2 spiders, a beetle, mosquito and a few ticks, so bugwise they can start pretty young.

 

[c.jean]

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 about 2-3 weeks old (basically when they can’t squeeze through the sides of our dog crate), we move them from the heated brooder on our covered porch to a dog crate set up in the yard during the day. I leave the plastic insert that goes on the bottom, on top, to provide shade as the sun moves through the sky. Our temps are already above 80 so that’s where they hang out until the temp starts to drop for the evening then they are moved back on to the porch for the night. It’s a good way for them to play in the grass, and get use to all the activity of the backyard (chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, kids). I’ve noticed it helps when it comes time to fully integrate them into the flock. When I have the time to sit out there with them, I will open the crate, so they can explore a bit further. This is when they get to really test out their wings! They generally stay right next to the crate and won’t venture off too far. If they get startled, they all rush back in for safety.

 

[Kiki]

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?

You can bring the outside in to them on day one.
I bring dirt from the yard in a couple days after hatch.

 

[Willowspirit]

You can bring the outside in to them on day one.
I bring dirt from the yard in a couple days after hatch.

and i will reiterate that mine have all loved this. I have a new laying hen in isolation. We gave her a big piece of sod and she loved it too!

 

[LadySkorski]

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?

I usually let the hens sit on, hatch and raise their own chicks in our general population enclosed run (carport converted to chicken run/pens) where we have built a coop situated underneath (zoom in at the doorway on 1st pic and you’ll see what I’m describing), for added protection from our scorching Florida sun. That way the chicks are in a more relaxed and natural upbringing, with the rest of the flock accepting them from day one. The mommas do a fantastic job at protecting their young, by the way. Nature doing what nature does best.
As for predators: we have lost only 2 full grown hens each weighing in at 10 and 11 lbs in the 8 years of living in Florida. The first was by a bobcat, the second by a hawk (we had to put that hen down because the hawk slammed down on her back and it’s talons ripped her up badly and broke her spine).
Our mature flock free ranges from sun up to sundown without supervision from the human species. But I must admit that they do follow us around the farm like puppies, as they are curious birds. And we do have our favourite spoiled chickens, who will do anything for cuddles and attention!
The chicks follow their mommas and mommas take turns watching over and protecting the entire brood from pecking.
For the eggs that we must hatch in an incubator (sometimes due to hen not returning to the nest because some chicks have hatched, and on day 2 she gets off the nest with the chicks to show them how to feed and drink) we take the remaining eggs and place them in an incubator to finish the hatch, which is usually only a day to three days. Then we’ll introduce them at night to the hen as she sleeps with the ones that hatch a day or so earlier. That’s the easiest and most effective way to introduce late hatches.
Now for the eggs that we incubate from day one in an incubator (when we don’t have hens that go broody), these will be raised in a brooder for 2 weeks, then placed in the nursery pen for six weeks, followed by 2 months in the grow out pen (while being fully visible to the general population through chicken wire). Makes for introduction to the main flock easier when they’ve already got used to seeing each other.
For more pictures of our flock, pens, coop, stories, go to our FB page: Backyard Blessings.

 

[CuriousQueen]

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[/QUOTE]
I love it!!! I’m a stay at home fur, fin, and feather mom. I can set one of those up in minutes tomorrow! Thank you!!

 

[DIMBY]

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?

I have always depended on the weather esp. at night. If temperatures are still in the high 30s or even low 40s, I keep them in until night temps are hovering at about 45-50. I also don't depend on age as much as size, to make sure that they can get in and out of the hen house with a ramp. Some years I've had to wait until they were 5 weeks or so. Then I "introduce" them to my big hens by keeping them in an oversize dog crate in the chicken coop for two or three days, they can see each other, smell, etc. (Often it's quite a shock for all concerned). However, once they're out and about in the yard, I don't worry about what they eat, I figure they'll figure it out. If these are your first chickens, good luck - and when you're ready, ask about perch training. That's a lot of fun!