when to let chickens out

[marvun22]

my chickens are 7 1/2 weeks old. i think they're too young to go outside their coop because of my cats. right now there staying with my young ducks because my big chickens abuse them if they get their beaks on them. but i was filling a small tub for my ducks to swim in then the ducks got scared and started running around the pen. the chickens got scared of the ducks and they squeezed out of this teeny hole that i have since patched. but when they were out the cats were looking like "oh its just another dumb bird" but when they're in the coop there are 5 next to it stocking them

 

[centrarchid]

A couple things are important for answering.

Your location geographically.

Breed of chickens.

Will adult chickens, especially a rooster be with them?

WIll you or chicken friendly dog be out with them.

 

[marvun22]

i am from north dakota
my young breed is 2 buff orpingtons 3 rhode island reds and 3 new hampshire reds my old breed is 8 buff orpingtons and 1 ameraucana and the old ones free range
i have 1 rooster but im not sure if any of the big chickens would stay with them
my dog is not chicken friendly i would check on them often

 

[centrarchid]

For short-term waite a couple more weeks since you have standard sized breeds. Biggest problems not likely to be cats but rather migratory hawks coming through. A little more size will help against Coopers hawks which are my biggest problems for young birds in fall. Rooster need not be standing over young birds to be effective, just around and able to interfere with Coopers going after the younger birds. If the hawk cannot fly immediately away with chick, then rooster will suppress most attempts by Coopers. Red-tails and feriginus are different matters best dealt with using cover or covered run or better yet getting your dog chicken friendly. Investing in getting dog chicken friendly will be your most effective method to protect birds from wildlife. North Dakato, as in wolf country? If yes, then fence in whole area to protect dog so it can protect chickens.

 

[marvun22]

first the biggest birds i have around my farm are my ducks. and i also have no wolves around the only threat to birds that i know of are cats and coons

 

[centrarchid]

Cats you should be able to access as legimate threats pretty quick based on observation. While supervised with cats around, let birds out. Chickens should already be larger than cats will want to tangle with and if not have broom handy to break up cats attacks. Odds are the cats will stand down when chickens walk up to them. Raccoons will be problem while birds are roosting. Foxes and hawks will be a problem that simply have not let themselves be known to you yet. Fear not, they are around. Having dog close by will help with those.