What is a good age to start to let my chicken free range?

[Dusty8ball]

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I have had my Rhode island reds for 12 weeks now, from day olds. They are doing really well and growing big. They are coop trained, and I live on 6 acres of grass land. I'm just trying to get a feel for when people start to let them free range?


Thanks.

 

[Folly's place]

Start letting them out near dusk, while you are there. They should be interested in going in to roost near dark, and you will be there to help them. L hope you have shrubs and trees around; chickens are forest animals, not open grassland. Hawks will have an easier time feasting if they don't have cover. Mary

 

[Dusty8ball]

Thanks Mary,

I have a few trees around for them the hide under. I let them out today for a few hours and they all came back to roost. It was nice to see them out and eating worm and other bugs and seeds. I was happy to see all 11 make it back tonight.

 

[beccawchick]

My bantam Cochins are between 8 and 12 weeks old and I leave their run door open quite often. They usually prefer to hang out in their run but occasionally venture out. I thought id have to chase them/catch them but they hang out pretty close to the run on their own. Our back yard is fully fenced though, and not huge (we are on a 1/3 acre lot).

 

[azygous]

I have five-week old chicks, and they have been like other chicks I've raised in that they take it real slow and stick around close by at first.

Each day I notice that they are getting the courage to explore a bit farther out. They've been doing this for about two weeks, and they prefer to come back into the run long, long before roosting time. They go into their coop and roost on their own already.

Even my adult chickens seem to get their fill of free ranging after a few hours, and prefer to spend most of the afternoon loafing under their coop or hanging out in the run, chipping away at their flock block.

They have no end of land to roam, but they all go no farther than 100 feet in any direction from their run.

Anyway, that's how we do free-ranging at my place.

 

[Dusty8ball]

So It has been a few day of free ranging, and there all still in good order. They forgot where the coop was and how to get inside. I'm currently reteaching them. They have eaten very little of there feed and are much happier birds!!