what age to free range a new flock

[crazychickymom]

Hello all.. I am a first timer with chickens. My flock of 18 are 7 weeks old. I have no older chickens for them to learn from. At what age can I let them out of their run to "free range" Thanks in advance!

 

[Rod-T]

Young chickens are more vulnerable to air predators. . Crows will even feed on them...

Small amounts supervised while your outside. Would be ok.. otherwise I'd wait before letting them out all day with you not around

 

[Love4zion]

Hello all.. I am a first timer with chickens.  My flock of 18  are 7 weeks old.  I have no older chickens for them to learn from.  At what age can I let them out of their run to "free range"  Thanks in advance!

I am quite new to chickens so I don't know how accurate and helpful my advice is but mine are 8 weeks old and they do great outside. I don't leave them alone much yet. I'm comfortable with light supervision. It might depend on what predators are in your area.

 

[crazychickymom]

we do have hawks around during the day.. I'm afraid that if I let them out of the run, they won't go back on their own. At night there are coyotes, fox, and raccoon's..

 

[crazychickymom]

how would I "round them up" if I had to leave?? LOL.. such a newbie. There is one of me and 18 of them...

 

[Rod-T]

Once older they go to coop better.. then you can just let them out in evening. . Then at nightfall they'd go back in on there own

 

[Love4zion]

how would I "round them up" if I had to leave??  LOL.. such a newbie.  There is one of me and 18 of them...

I've spent so much time with mine over these 8-9 weeks that they seems curious about what I'm doing when I'm around. Probably hoping for a treat of some sort. When I'm done I slowly "herd them toward their run and have a handful of scratch waiting for them. Maybe the Creator just blessed me with amazing chickens since I'm new to this too?

 

[Love4zion]

Also two of mine are especially attached to me and since they tend to more or less stay as pack, where ever I go or when I come out of the house, they tend to be around me. I never knew chickens would be so easy and amazing.

 

[hottubchicks]

I just clap my hands and say time to go in, time for bed. There are a few stragglers that require a little coaxing but that usually does it.

 

[RobandSue2]

Saving scratch solely for round up time (shake it in a cup and they come running) is helpful for me...then they know they are getting a treat