When can they be set free?

[Gary_S]

My chicks are three weeks old. They are in the coop where they will live. They are not free to go out into the chicken yard yet. So how old should they be before I can let them out into the yard? I have Olive Eggers and Lavender Ameraucana.

 

[RUNuts]

My chicks are three weeks old. They are in the coop where they will live. They are not free to go out into the chicken yard yet. So how old should they be before I can let them out into the yard? I have Olive Eggers and Lavender Ameraucana.

How many and how much space? I usually wait until they are 2-4 weeks old depending on weather and space available. Really, it is up to you.

I wait until they are accustomed to their sleeping spot. They will find other spots to huddle, cuddle and muddle. By 3 to 6 weeks, they will start looking to roost.

 

[Gary_S]

The yard is 25 feet square, it will be wired with an electric fence on the outside and I plan to use brightly colored string in random patterns over the top to discourage hawks. They can get under the coop and there are trees around to provide shade.