What age to allow chicks to roam the yard?

[Mack1946]

I put mine out at 4 weeks but I had built a makeshift fence out of deer netting and close it up at the bottom so they couldn't escape. Probably 8x10 and they run and flap their wings and do grown chicken stuff. They are Funny. Then in the evening, they go into their roost and I close their door for protection. The chicken netting is to keep them in and will not keep out predators.

 

[Shorty22366]

I take mine out at a week and put them in a outside coop and run. If my hen is taking care of them she takes them out anytime from 3 day on. I let them out all day. They have a small coop and run inside my big run so the others get to see and not touch experience too. I do sit with them and let them get use to me. My whole run has hardware cloth around it. It is 7ft tall and 35ftx 40ft. My big coop is 16ftx20ft. The small coop is 5ftx5ft and run is 5ftx8ft.

 

[wvchickenchick311]

Ok so I let mine into the coop at 10weeks,since I live in WV my chickes would’ve died if I let any of them out that early since it’s so cold. Lol

 

[wvchickenchick311]

View attachment 1776287 View attachment 1776284 View attachment 1776285 Ok so I let mine into the coop at 10weeks,since I live in WV my chickes would’ve died if I let any of them out that early since it’s so cold. Lol

Didn’t mean to say chickes lol meant chicks.

 

[woodmort]

Remember mama hen lets them out in a couple of days--just provide what she would--protection and warmth--and they can go out any time.

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there

I have a small side yard with 2 coops in it. I put my chicks outside in the mini coop a few days after hatch. At roughly 2 weeks I start opening the little pop door and supervise time out right before bed and start training them to go back in at dusk when the bigs go in. They get to meet the bigs face to face at this point as well. Over the next couple of weeks I gradually let them out earlier and spent less time out there watching. At 4 weeks now they have their first full day to come and go from their coop as they wish. I just check on them every once in a while to make sure they're all there.

I've had ample opportunity to observe and they know where to find cover if they're frightened. Once they decide to brave the big yard, plenty of cover is available. When is up to them.

Good luck with your chicks!

 

[alex5chickens]

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 let mine out for 20 minutes once they are about 2 weeks old. Make sure you supervise them the whole time since so many animals would love to kill a chick or two. Only let them run around on warm sunny days since they get chilled easily. Once they are four -six weeks old, they can now live outside if it doesn't get very cold at night. The chicks will know what to eat and what not to eat.

 

[D-Bar-B]

We used to let our chickens free range our large fenced in back yard. It wasnt predetors or them running away that was the issue. It was how destructive they were. And poop everywhere even on the deck. Lost some bushes and mums due to their digging and they always kicked dirt all over the sidewalk.

So. We ran a fence down about 1/3 of the yard . they have their yard and we have ours. They have so much room they rarely try to get on our side. We put pullets in the coop at 5 weeks. They stayed in their for a few weeks then we ley them into a little fenced area adjacent to the coop for a week or so and now at 10 weeks they are out in the big yard with the others.

We learned the hard way about letting ours free range in the entire yard (we got them as adults). After a week of having to sweep their poo out of the way just so I could get on the back patio, we also divided our yard. So they have their yard and we have ours.

We put our new chicks out in our smaller coop this week. They are 4 weeks old. I haven't put them out in the yard yet because of our older hens, although they can see them in the coop. We will put another divider in the yard for the chicks this weekend so they can start having more run room. They are so much fun!

 

[The chicken wizard]

there are many factors in determining when they can go outside. weather, temperature, number of chicks, chick temperament and security determine when the chicks can explore. for me, i live in the central valley of Ca, and my 3 chickens hatched this february, meaning that the weather was mostly rainy. my chicks imprinted onto me and would follow me around(they still do), so when they turned 2 weeks old and the sky was clear, i took them outside. they had no trouble getting lost, for i could easily call them to me. our yard has a secure fence, so no predators would get in. if the weather was warm sooner, i could've taken them out the moment i brought them home. at this time of year, depending on where you are, the weather should be warm enough for the chicks to explore. you just need to ensure that they don't wander off too far.

 

[ECarter1217]

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.

hawks are one of chickens biggest preditors