When do you let chicks start free ranging.

[BridgetBarger]

How old are your chicks when you starting letting them out of the run? I have a run that I am going to keep them in for a couple of week but then I plan of letting them out with the rest of the flock, what do you usually do?

 

[Mehjr10]

I usually move mine from the brooder to the tractor for good at 3 - 3.5 weeks of age, then when they get about the same size as the grown hens it will integrate them. I will put them in a small pen in the yard at 2 week as long as the temps are up, if they appear to be getting cold I will move them back inside.

 

[BridgetBarger]

I have a run that my grown birds don't use anymore, I let them free range during the day. I will start with the chicks in there until there are about the same size as other chickens/guineas. I can put the chick ito a safe place at night.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

We started letting ours free range at about 5 weeks old.

 

[bazinga0125]

We moved our chicks into the tractor when they were about 3.5 weeks. Once they started roosting up at night without guidance we would let them out maybe an hour before dusk so they could free range then roost up in the tractor. As they developed the pattern of going to bed in the tractor we would let them out a little earlier every day. They were completely free range within two weeks or so.

 

[TeacherMedic]

I let them outside when they are about 4 weeks old, but only if I'm going to be in the yard with them. A hawk can easily carry them off at this age. After they are big enough to give the hawk a run for his money then they can free range without me hanging around.

 

[Gatordog]

You must have small Hawks in your neck of the woods. I have had hawks take away my full grown hens and roos.

Mine are 4 weeks old when I put them in the Coop with no heat, but I live in Deep South Texas and the lows only get down to 69 for just a hour or two. I get them ready for no heat, by either changing bulbs for less heat or no heat at all just for a short time about a week before I put them outside. Once they are fully feathered out they are fine. They just seem to do better outside eating bugs and grass, than stuck inside

 

[TeacherMedic]

You must have small Hawks in your neck of the woods. I have had hawks take away my full grown hens and roos.

Mine are 4 weeks old when I put them in the Coop with no heat, but I live in Deep South Texas and the lows only get down to 69 for just a hour or two. I get them ready for no heat, by either changing bulbs for less heat or no heat at all just for a short time about a week before I put them outside. Once they are fully feathered out they are fine. They just seem to do better outside eating bugs and grass, than stuck inside

Yeah, but the older the chick gets the smarter it gets at running and hiding from the hawks!

 

[cblakley0531]

I've been wondering this myself but I won't be able to free range because we have two cats that would surely kill them :-(