When to let pullets free range?

My ten are not as old as yours and have been free ranging in my yard for 2-3 weeks.

 

My yard is an acre. at first they stayed close to their pen, then they ranged further. At first I let them out only when I could watch them, then in the late afternoons to evenings, and now they are pretty much out all day. My fence is five feet welded wire on two sides and six feet stockade on the other two. Perhaps some day they may go over it, but so far they haven't. at six weeks they can jump three feet easily. I have enough ground cover that they can hide from hawks pretty well. At night, I still bring them in to my house, because i've been reading the "predator" section of this forum too much.

 

My chicks have been roaming with the momma since less than a week old.

I've been letting the teenagers (hatchery and about 6 weeks old) out in the afternoon. I could let them out all day but the meat birds get into the teen's coop and make a mess.

 

Thought that it was probably just the birds.

The teenagers stay close to the coop yet but so far so good.

 

I have read that if you don't have a rooster your girls will wonder. That is why I am trying to get a roo! Don't they need to be in the designated coop area for about a week? so they know where home is.

 

They may wonder, but lest you wonder why you got into chickens, try to keep yours from doing what mine did today -- wandering into the house, and leaving a few of their calling cards on the dining room rug.