When can I let my chicks free range?

[ohnoicantfly]

I have seven 5-week-old chicks in a closed-off area in the coop. They have access to an 8x8' run. They've jumped the little fence in the coop several times now and I was wondering when I can let the chicks free-range with the adults?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

That depends...on the adults and room in free range...and to some degree the temperament of the chicks. It is a process.

As to the age of the chicks, my broody hatch chicks are out free ranging with the adults, depending on hen and brood, anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks of age. Momma protects them and integrates them. So the babes are well adapted for free ranging with the caveat of PREDATOR PROTECTION. The cheeping of little babes is like a magnet for hawks, rats, cats and other predators. You will also need to "stupid chick" proof your area to prevent drowning in a water bowl or wandering off and getting stuck.

Good news at 5 weeks of age, most of them should be sized enough to avoid most pitfalls other than predators. However flock acceptance, to non-broody hen babes, can be a problem. It is for this reason I tend to wait until 8 to 10 weeks of age, or at least until the babes are half the size of the adults. It can avoid some hazing problems and "stupid chick" problems.

In your situation, the adult reaction is the big hurdle. With hen brooded, momma makes the introductions and will fend off any aggressive hens. Also a good rooster should help integrate. Having neither of those (I assume), since you have a group of them (7), they will make a subflock. It sounds like they have had fence exposure, so they are not unknown to the adults.

Placing them in free range is a good way to help them integrate with the flock without forcing them into tight quarters at the mercy of an overly aggressive adult. Be sure to have numerous feeders and waterers so they can't be hazed away from them, and hiding places should a bird become overly aggressive.

Then there is the round up at night. Be prepared that you may need to train the babes to go in with the adults. Expect much drama in the coop at night as they tussle for roosting space. Generally the babes are hazed away from the roosts, which can push them out to the run or yard. Sometimes you end up plucking babes from bushes and fence posts if they have been pushed out of the coop by the adults.

If you have a separate coop for the babes than the adults, you can get nicely segregated flocks (babes in one and adults), or a mixture, or suddenly no one seems to remember where to go.

All to say, if you think the babes will be well enough received by the flock, you can begin free ranging knowing you will have some issues which may arise.

Again, if I've separately brooded a bunch of chicks, I personally prefer them to be a bit bigger (8 to 10 weeks) to find easier transition. The smaller the chicks are the more problems seem to arise which are mentioned above.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[ohnoicantfly]

That depends...on the adults and room in free range...and to some degree the temperament of the chicks. It is a process.

As to the age of the chicks, my broody hatch chicks are out free ranging with the adults, depending on hen and brood, anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks of age. Momma protects them and integrates them. So the babes are well adapted for free ranging with the caveat of PREDATOR PROTECTION. The cheeping of little babes is like a magnet for hawks, rats, cats and other predators. You will also need to "stupid chick" proof your area to prevent drowning in a water bowl or wandering off and getting stuck.

Good news at 5 weeks of age, most of them should be sized enough to avoid most pitfalls other than predators. However flock acceptance, to non-broody hen babes, can be a problem. It is for this reason I tend to wait until 8 to 10 weeks of age, or at least until the babes are half the size of the adults. It can avoid some hazing problems and "stupid chick" problems.

In your situation, the adult reaction is the big hurdle. With hen brooded, momma makes the introductions and will fend off any aggressive hens. Also a good rooster should help integrate. Having neither of those (I assume), since you have a group of them (7), they will make a subflock. It sounds like they have had fence exposure, so they are not unknown to the adults.

Placing them in free range is a good way to help them integrate with the flock without forcing them into tight quarters at the mercy of an overly aggressive adult. Be sure to have numerous feeders and waterers so they can't be hazed away from them, and hiding places should a bird become overly aggressive.

Then there is the round up at night. Be prepared that you may need to train the babes to go in with the adults. Expect much drama in the coop at night as they tussle for roosting space. Generally the babes are hazed away from the roosts, which can push them out to the run or yard. Sometimes you end up plucking babes from bushes and fence posts if they have been pushed out of the coop by the adults.

If you have a separate coop for the babes than the adults, you can get nicely segregated flocks (babes in one and adults), or a mixture, or suddenly no one seems to remember where to go.

All to say, if you think the babes will be well enough received by the flock, you can begin free ranging knowing you will have some issues which may arise.

Again, if I've separately brooded a bunch of chicks, I personally prefer them to be a bit bigger (8 to 10 weeks) to find easier transition. The smaller the chicks are the more problems seem to arise which are mentioned above.

My thoughts.
LofMc

There's a couple grumps among the older hens that have more of a tendency to pick on new chickens. They get used to them eventually though.
As for the chicks' temperaments, they seem quite average, though they will occasionally fight or peck at each other when they get restless.

The chickens technically have quite a bit of space to forage on, but they only ever use about 3 acres. They've been staying under the deck a lot though, due to the heat, so they've been using less of their foraging space. And the coop is 9x12', with 14 hens (6 old, 8 young and very recently added).
I think the older hens would bully and peck at the chicks for a while, but it would eventually blow over. I'm just worried that it would be too much for the chicks.

And then there's the problem of the chicks potentially wandering off or not knowing where to go at night. How soon would they figure this out? They don't go in when the hens do. I usually have to shoo them into the coop at night.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

My biggest concern with 3 acres and 5 week old chicks is losing them if they have not bonded well with the main flock. You may find they go off to roost somewhere else...at risk of predators.

I would wait, personally, for them to really bond well with the flock and the coop before opening up full 3 acre range.

Just my experience.

LofMc

 

[ohnoicantfly]

Ok. Thanks.
How would I go about bonding them with the rest of the flock? I was thinking I might just keep the adults and the chicks together in the coop for a while (maybe a week?). Would that work? Or at least help?

 

[Yardmom]

Younger birds normally form a sub flock. Do not expect them to bond until they are about egg laying age. The younger they are the less likely the older ones are to pay attention to them. Young chicks normally can be homed like the adults (maybe even faster) They will return to the place they have been sleeping. They will not wander as far as adults. They do tend to stay out later and are much more likely to be taken by predators. I have free range week old chicks from brooders and 2 week old chicks from my main coop on more than 1 occasion.

 

[ohnoicantfly]

Ok, thanks. Good to know.
How long until the danger of predators dissipates? In other words, when will I be able to not worry about them?

 

[Yardmom]

There is always a chance of predators. The older they get the wiser they get, but a fox or coyote or what ever wildlife you have in the area could always be after a snack.