When can my chicks go outside to free range, without a cage?

[Mims]

Okay, my older chicks are about 5 weeks old. I take them outside to peck around, but keep them in a cage when out there. When can I let them roam in my front yard, out of the cage, and how do I get them to come back when it's time to go back inside? I've been working on training them to come for mealworm treats when I say Here chicky chicky.

I really only want to let them out for about an hour or 2 of "play time" before returning them to their cage in my bathroom.

I live in the country, and worry about hawks, coyotes, etc, not to mention my own 2 big dogs in the backyard. I'm afraid to let them go roam, for fear of not being able to get them to come back.

This pic is from 2 weeks ago. They're much bigger now.




Last night, playing blueberry keep away:

 

[tash]

Mine are close to 12 weeks and I don't let them free range unless we are outside. We have lots of hawks and even eagles here that would probably love an easy snack. When we do let them out they stay in the garden by the house and dust bath mostly so it's just a matter of finding which plant they are under and picking them up. If one runs we put the one we got in the coop and the other one doesn't want to be lonely and will go right in. If you only let them out in the evening they will come find you or go to the coop at night when they are ready for bed. That is they will IF they know where bed is. If they don't they will go sleep in the trees/bushes. So this works best if they are sleeping in a coop at night outside and they can find it while free ranging. If they do go to sleep in the tress just go pluck them from there and bring them in. (easier said then done, but usually still easier then chasing them).

 

[eviemethugh]

Chickens must fulfill their desire to find a safe place to sleep at night. If they know the coop is safe...they will always come back. Sometimes they may decide that a bush looks like a fun place to hunker down, but you can train them very easily (literally, most of them will do this themselves, and if you have a rooster, he will MAKE his girls come home, it is very funny...)
You can start by letting them out about an hour before the sun goes down. Then if they settle down somewhere other than the coop, just pick them up and set them where you want them to go. The next night try an hour or two before sunset. Just keep adding time until you are comfortable. By only giving them a little bit of time before bed time, they won't be able to roam very far.
5 weeks is probably a little young for them to be able to defend themselves. We've done it before, but we are very "cest le vie" when it comes to letting them do what they want and not worrying too much. Ours generally leave the coop and settle down in the closest shady spot they can find. When they are adults they will go farther, but still tend to stick to the same bush/under our deck, etc. Sometimes they go eat our outside dog's food...and the dog is scared of them! Your dogs temperments will probably play a larger factor in this than predators. If the chickens will be close to the house and only out at day, most predators aren't a problem. Stray dogs and really desperate hawks/buzzards are more likely during the day. Most others will only come near your house at night.
Do you have a coop you want them to come back to, or just back to your house? If you have an outdoor coop ready, you could start by letting them stay there for the next week to get to know that as home so they know where you want them to come back to at night.

 

[Mims]

Well, I don't exactly mean free range. I didn't explain very well. More of a supervised, outside the cage visit to the front yard, for about an hour. Then back to their cage. They HAVE to be supervised out here, even when their much older.

Do you think I'll have a hard time catching them?

 

[Mims]

Coop is being built right now, but not ready yet. I hadn't thought to try it right before sundown. Excellent idea.

 

[ksguy]

Well, we've been doing a lot outside the last few days - pulling weeds in the veggie garden and flower beds out front. I've let my ten 12-16 day old chicks "free range" with me while we're working outside in the evenings. The garden is in a 600 sq foot fenced area, so they can't go far. It's just a matter of finding which zucchini or pumpkin leaf they've hidden under. The second night I did that, I went to the garage for a few minutes, then went back out to gather them up, and 6 of them had made their way back in to the box I took them out in. The other 4 gathered up fairly easily. Last night I took the 10 of them to the front yard to chase some ants that came up when pulling weeds. They ignored those but wandered the front yard for about an hour, pecking grass and finding dirt to play in. They never got too far away - 10 to 15 yards max - and always stuck together. When it was time to gather them up just before sunset I just corralled them towards the box and loaded 'em up. They have a blast testing their wings and chasing each other, but totally wear themselves out.

Keep 'em supervised, and enjoy the show. They aren't too tough to gather up. Just don't chase 'em. Approach slowly and non-predator like, keep your hands low to the ground when approaching, and they probably won't run off.

 

[junebuggena]

They tend to stick together. They probably won't go far at all. Everything new is scary to them. Just open up the cage. When you're done, gently herd them back in.

 

[Mims]

Thanks! You guys have made me feel much better about this. Tonight, we "free range" if only for a moment.....

 

[Mims]

Success!!!

They enjoyed every second of it.

Takeoff stayed true to his name. He's the one dive bombing the others.

 

[eviemethugh]

Takeoff stayed true to his name. He's the one dive bombing the others.

Hahahahaha! Too cute