What age to let chickens out to forage ?

[Iluvmallards]

I have a large run with a little hen house & a roosting house in it. I have 10 hens & 1 rooster in the run, all around 4.5 months old (I got them about 6 weeks ago, when they were 3 months old), and then I have 1 little game hen that free-ranges all day & roosts in the trees at night.

I left mine in the run for about 2 weeks before I let them out for the first time. I only let mine out in the afternoons if I know I'll be outside until dusk. I have about an acre. At first they stayed close to the pen, but now each time they venture a little further. I do my best to discourage them from roaming the front yard, since I don't want them venturing into the road, and it usually works. Most of them will go back into the pen on their own when it's time for bed. Now that summer is here with longer days, I'm usually ready to put them back in their pen before it's time for bed. I simply shake a cup full of scratch and call them to me as I enter the pen (They know what the shaking noise means by now). They follow me into the run as I give them the scratch. Sometimes one of the hens can't figure out how to get back in, and she circles the pen clucking like crazy and trying to climb the wire, lol. I usually have to go to her and leave a little trail of scratch for her to follow. It gets easier every time, since they are getting a routine with it.

In my opinion, it's best to only let them forage for a few hours in the afternoons/ evenings, especially if you don't want them to wonder very far & if you're afraid of something getting them.

I have a large run with a little hen house & a roosting house in it. I have 10 hens & 1 rooster in the run, all around 4.5 months old (I got them about 6 weeks ago, when they were 3 months old), and then I have 1 little game hen that free-ranges all day & roosts in the trees at night.

I left mine in the run for about 2 weeks before I let them out for the first time. I only let mine out in the afternoons if I know I'll be outside until dusk. I have about an acre. At first they stayed close to the pen, but now each time they venture a little further. I do my best to discourage them from roaming the front yard, since I don't want them venturing into the road, and it usually works. Most of them will go back into the pen on their own when it's time for bed. Now that summer is here with longer days, I'm usually ready to put them back in their pen before it's time for bed. I simply shake a cup full of scratch and call them to me as I enter the pen (They know what the shaking noise means by now). They follow me into the run as I give them the scratch. Sometimes one of the hens can't figure out how to get back in, and she circles the pen clucking like crazy and trying to climb the wire, lol. I usually have to go to her and leave a little trail of scratch for her to follow. It gets easier every time, since they are getting a routine with it.

In my opinion, it's best to only let them forage for a few hours in the afternoons/ evenings, especially if you don't want them to wonder very far & if you're afraid of something getting them.

i haven't figured out how to post pics yet from my Ipad, you have a very nice coop and run, i have only a coop no run on almost 2 acres surround by woods and brush and a creek (is more like a river) they call it coddle creek about 100 feet from my back door, i have 16 hens and 2 roosters and 1 little bantam hen she thinks she's one of the group, i let them run all day they dont go far into the woods any time i go outside and yell here chick chick they come running, and they all put them selves to bed around dusk and i just close their coop up for the night, my young rooster is going to the freezer he is not gentle with the hens at all he chases them down and is pulling all their back feathers out, the older rooster is very gentle (no! means no!) lol, I have 6 ducks + babies now and one Chinese goose (scar face) they have a nesting area with a covered platform and a run around it because I don't think I could get them in a coop, but they do go in the creek all day and stay right behind the house they don't venture far,they come back and try to sleep in the grass next to their pen, but when they see me coming they start heading into the pen, now that the ducks have babies I can't get scar face to leave the pen, when I go out there he gets in front of the babies and the hens and won't let me near them, I have 3 Chinese goose eggs in the incubator hoping to hatch him a couple of friends, poor thing he protects those ducks from everything snakes, dogs hence his name he beat up a dog that came in the yard after the ducks and now has a little tooth scar next to his eye, and those ducks take off and leave him hanging in the yard, he can't fly the ducks can, I feel sorry for him, I took my new babies (goslings) out for the first time today, they were so busy tasting everything they didn't even notice when I ran in the house to get them a swimming bowl as soon as I figure out how to post pics I will I have a bunch

 

[NestingHillsSC]

i haven't figured out how to post pics yet from my Ipad, you have a very nice coop and run, i have only a coop no run on almost 2 acres surround by woods and brush and a creek (is more like a river) they call it coddle creek about 100 feet from my back door, i have 16 hens and 2 roosters and 1 little bantam hen she thinks she's one of the group, i let them run all day they dont go far into the woods any time i go outside and yell here chick chick they come running, and they all put them selves to bed around dusk and i just close their coop up for the night, my young rooster is going to the freezer he is not gentle with the hens at all he chases them down and is pulling all their back feathers out, the older rooster is very gentle (no! means no!) lol, I have 6 ducks + babies now and one Chinese goose (scar face) they have a nesting area with a covered platform and a run around it because I don't think I could get them in a coop, but they do go in the creek all day and stay right behind the house they don't venture far,they come back and try to sleep in the grass next to their pen, but when they see me coming they start heading into the pen, now that the ducks have babies I can't get scar face to leave the pen, when I go out there he gets in front of the babies and the hens and won't let me near them, I have 3 Chinese goose eggs in the incubator hoping to hatch him a couple of friends, poor thing he protects those ducks from everything snakes, dogs hence his name he beat up a dog that came in the yard after the ducks and now has a little tooth scar next to his eye, and those ducks take off and leave him hanging in the yard, he can't fly the ducks can, I feel sorry for him, I took my new babies (goslings) out for the first time today, they were so busy tasting everything they didn't even notice when I ran in the house to get them a swimming bowl as soon as I figure out how to post pics I will I have a bunch

Most all young roos are that way. Takes them some time to learn how to be a gentle roo.

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

i haven't figured out how to post pics yet from my Ipad, you have a very nice coop and run, i have only a coop no run on almost 2 acres surround by woods and brush and a creek (is more like a river) they call it coddle creek about 100 feet from my back door, i have 16 hens and 2 roosters and 1 little bantam hen she thinks she's one of the group, i let them run all day they dont go far into the woods any time i go outside and yell here chick chick they come running, and they all put them selves to bed around dusk and i just close their coop up for the night, my young rooster is going to the freezer he is not gentle with the hens at all he chases them down and is pulling all their back feathers out, the older rooster is very gentle (no! means no!) lol, I have 6 ducks + babies now and one Chinese goose (scar face) they have a nesting area with a covered platform and a run around it because I don't think I could get them in a coop, but they do go in the creek all day and stay right behind the house they don't venture far,they come back and try to sleep in the grass next to their pen, but when they see me coming they start heading into the pen, now that the ducks have babies I can't get scar face to leave the pen, when I go out there he gets in front of the babies and the hens and won't let me near them, I have 3 Chinese goose eggs in the incubator hoping to hatch him a couple of friends, poor thing he protects those ducks from everything snakes, dogs hence his name he beat up a dog that came in the yard after the ducks and now has a little tooth scar next to his eye, and those ducks take off and leave him hanging in the yard, he can't fly the ducks can, I feel sorry for him, I took my new babies (goslings) out for the first time today, they were so busy tasting everything they didn't even notice when I ran in the house to get them a swimming bowl as soon as I figure out how to post pics I will I have a bunch

Thanks! Can't wait to see pics of your coop.

My rooster grew up with the hens, and at first he was rather too eager with them, but they have learned how to get along with each other well. He's almost 5 months old, and is turning out to be a very good rooster. He's not rough, but he's not gentle either. He always watches out for his girls though.

 

[Iluvmallards]

Thanks! Can't wait to see pics of your coop. 
My rooster grew up with the hens, and at first he was rather too eager with them, but they have learned how to get along with each other well. He's almost 5 months old, and is turning out to be a very good rooster. He's not rough, but he's not gentle either. He always watches out for his girls though. 

My young roo doesn't watch out for the girls, he's just chasing them all day, and if he catches one they start screaming and the older one (frank) comes running and when he sees Frank coming he runs, now my Frank is on guard all day, if anything flies over head he is the first to see it and let's out what sounds like a deep growl and ALL the girls dive for the heavy under growth or what ever is near (even a humming bird), where do you live? GA? I live in NC but I am originally from Wyoming and I am ready to move back, my family has 400 acres out there. I

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

My young roo doesn't watch out for the girls, he's just chasing them all day, and if he catches one they start screaming and the older one (frank) comes running and when he sees Frank coming he runs, now my Frank is on guard all day, if anything flies over head he is the first to see it and let's out what sounds like a deep growl and ALL the girls dive for the heavy under growth or what ever is near (even a humming bird), where do you live? GA? I live in NC but I am originally from Wyoming and I am ready to move back, my family has 400 acres out there. I

Sounds like Frank has his work cut out for him in teaching the young roo how to be a proper rooster, lol.

Yes, born & raised in GA. I've always wanted to see Wyoming. Some day I hope to take a road trip out there. I hear it's a place with beauty like no other. 400 acres?? Whatever are you doing in NC?

I certainly understand you wanting to go back!

 

[Homestead girl]

Okay updated on how I am doing with the chickens and letting them out to forage.
It is going great I open the door everyone who want's to come out does, and they forage or lay around in the sun . If I move to far away from the coop and they notice , some of them will go right back in the coop and wait till I come back. Then they will come back outside again.
I haven't had any problems getting them back in the coop when I need them inside. They fuss a little bit at me , but other than that they willing go in.
I have also started feeding them FF and that is going great . Their food consumption has dropped quite a bit. I have also started the deep litter method and boy that is a god send , my coop does not smell and it is much drier than before the chickens seem to like it also. There is a lot more scratching going on in the coop.
All in all loving life with chickens...

Keep your experiences coming they are great to read and we can always
learn from what others do in their coops.

 

[AParmer]

Okay updated on how I am doing with the chickens and letting them out to forage.
It is going great I open the door everyone who want's to come out does, and they forage or lay around in the sun . If I move to far away from the coop and they notice , some of them will go right back in the coop and wait till I come back. Then they will come back outside again.
I haven't had any problems getting them back in the coop when I need them inside. They fuss a little bit at me , but other than that they willing go in.
I have also started feeding them FF and that is going great . Their food consumption has dropped quite a bit. I have also started the deep litter method and boy that is a god send , my coop does not smell and it is much drier than before the chickens seem to like it also. There is a lot more scratching going on in the coop.
All in all loving life with chickens...

Keep your experiences coming they are great to read and we can always
learn from what others do in their coops.

I'm so thrilled everyone is doing so great! It feels like a real accomplishment once we get them to the point of almost being self sufficient. As well as a pet could be I suppose, lol. The only reason I regret having an elevated coop is because I can't do deep litter. I'm so glad it's working so great for you.

Josh and I clipped wings yesterday, since my crew has discovered they can fly to the top of their yard pen and perch. (I'm afraid of them getting out of the main yard at this age.) My now 9 week old Black Australorps run the entire back yard with the rooster. So the yard pen has the 7 week old Lorps and Welsummers and the 5 week old Buff Orphingons. My Orphintons are the sweetest chicks I've ever had. My son and I can go in and sit down with them and they're all over us. So Josh takes and sits two of the Orphington girls on the ground outside the pen, close to where I'm standing. I start walking around and I'm followed every step I take. He found this to be hilarious, told me I must be momma hen.

 

[melina90]

I'm so thrilled everyone is doing so great! It feels like a real accomplishment once we get them to the point of almost being self sufficient. As well as a pet could be I suppose, lol. The only reason I regret having an elevated coop is because I can't do deep litter. I'm so glad it's working so great for you.

Josh and I clipped wings yesterday, since my crew has discovered they can fly to the top of their yard pen and perch. (I'm afraid of them getting out of the main yard at this age.) My now 9 week old Black Australorps run the entire back yard with the rooster. So the yard pen has the 7 week old Lorps and Welsummers and the 5 week old Buff Orphingons. My Orphintons are the sweetest chicks I've ever had. My son and I can go in and sit down with them and they're all over us. So Josh takes and sits two of the Orphington girls on the ground outside the pen, close to where I'm standing. I start walking around and I'm followed every step I take. He found this to be hilarious, told me I must be momma hen.

Hahaha, my chickens also follow me around like a tail whereever I go outside. It's hilarious!

 

[Homestead girl]

I'm so thrilled everyone is doing so great! It feels like a real accomplishment once we get them to the point of almost being self sufficient. As well as a pet could be I suppose, lol. The only reason I regret having an elevated coop is because I can't do deep litter. I'm so glad it's working so great for you.

Josh and I clipped wings yesterday, since my crew has discovered they can fly to the top of their yard pen and perch. (I'm afraid of them getting out of the main yard at this age.) My now 9 week old Black Australorps run the entire back yard with the rooster. So the yard pen has the 7 week old Lorps and Welsummers and the 5 week old Buff Orphingons. My Orphintons are the sweetest chicks I've ever had. My son and I can go in and sit down with them and they're all over us. So Josh takes and sits two of the Orphington girls on the ground outside the pen, close to where I'm standing. I start walking around and I'm followed every step I take. He found this to be hilarious, told me I must be momma hen.

My buff's are about 14 weeks they used to do the same thing with me when they were smaller, I could pick them up or they would jump up on my leg and just sit and talk to me. Now that they are getting bigger not so much anymore but they will still come stand by me and talk to me. They are finding their voice now. I am hearing all sorts of sounds coming out of them.
The other day I did my best rooster imitation and they all went running to the other side of the coop , I thought I was gonna pee my pants from laughing so hard.
It has become a joy everyday to take care of them. and I hope in return I get lots of eggs.

 

[Thunder Skye]

Try this to protect them and you won't have to chase them all over the place