When can I Free range?

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Hello everyone! Thanks so much for reading this post and helping me out today. I have twelve Welsummer chicks, all currently between 3-5 weeks. This is my first time having chickens, so I have no older chickens then these chicks. They are all currently in there coop and run. I was wondering, when can I let them out to free range during the day? I got them for tick control, and they will be free ranging during the day, and cooped up at night.

Thanks all for your help!

Kindly,
Summer

 

[azygous]

Did you really mean to say you plan to free-range your chickens during the night and coop them up during the day? I can think of no situation, even with adult chickens, where that would be a safe practice.

Your chicks will decide when to venture out to free range. Right now, even if you were to open the run so they could go out and explore, they likely wouldn't want to.

Chicks have a strong instinct to understand that they are prey, and especially they understand that their small size makes them twice as vulnerable. They won't be apt to show much interest in pursuing freedom for now.

I have three-week old chicks at this time, and they have full access to the entire run with sixteen adult hens. While they are fearless about mingling with the adults inside the covered run, they aren't and won't have any interest in free ranging for several more weeks.

Usually, between six and eight weeks, the chicks will notice there are open doors leading to the great world outside, and they will begin to test their courage to step out of the run. But they don't go racing off across the yard at first. They instead cling to the apron around the run, staying within its safety and cover. Chicks under the care of a broody may follow her across the yard, but not unescorted chicks. They need to gradually learn to trust themselves to know when it's safe to strike out on their own.

So, for now you may open the run up so the chicks can step outside when they feel brave enough, but do understand that it will be several weeks before they feel safe enough to actually free range. But no chickens should be free ranging all night, even if they were inclined not to want to roost and sleep when the sun sets. Not only are chickens programmed to sleep at night, they understand that things in the night are waiting for the opportunity to eat them, and they seek cover and safety at night for just this reason.

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Did you really mean to say you plan to free-range your chickens during the night and coop them up during the day? I can think of no situation, even with adult chickens, where that would be a safe practice.

Your chicks will decide when to venture out to free range. Right now, even if you were to open the run so they could go out and explore, they likely wouldn't want to.

Chicks have a strong instinct to understand that they are prey, and especially they understand that their small size makes them twice as vulnerable. They won't be apt to show much interest in pursuing freedom for now.

I have three-week old chicks at this time, and they have full access to the entire run with sixteen adult hens. While they are fearless about mingling with the adults inside the covered run, they aren't and won't have any interest in free ranging for several more weeks.

Usually, between six and eight weeks, the chicks will notice there are open doors leading to the great world outside, and they will begin to test their courage to step out of the run. But they don't go racing off across the yard at first. They instead cling to the apron around the run, staying within its safety and cover. Chicks under the care of a broody may follow her across the yard, but not unescorted chicks. They need to gradually learn to trust themselves to know when it's safe to strike out on their own.

So, for now you may open the run up so the chicks can step outside when they feel brave enough, but do understand that it will be several weeks before they feel safe enough to actually free range. But no chickens should be free ranging all night, even if they were inclined not to want to roost and sleep when the sun sets. Not only are chickens programmed to sleep at night, they understand that things in the night are waiting for the opportunity to eat them, and they seek cover and safety at night for just this reason.

Hello! I want to thank you so much for taking time to reply.

Whoops, I am very sorry, I meant to say free range during the DAY and coop up at night.

Sure, this makes sense! I will leave the run open. Thanks again!

 

[gtaus]

I was wondering, when can I let them out to free range during the day?

I live on a lake and we have hawks and Bald Eagles overhead all the time. I can't/won't let my chickens free range. They are happy, and safe, in their chicken run covered with bird netting to prevent attacks. There are a few people around here that have attempted to free range their chickens.... we call them former chicken owners.

I would love to let my chickens free range, but I prefer to have my flock for longer than just one summer. If you don't have the predator concerns that I do, or if you are willing to risk some loss of birds to predators, then free ranging your birds might be a great idea.

I have to settle for bringing the free range to my chicken run, dumping all my grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and just about anything else organic into the run. Over time, the compost in the chicken run is full of delicious bugs and worms for the chickens to forage. It's like free ranging, but with a safety net overhead. It's the best I can do, but it works for me and my flock.

I keep my chicks in the brooder until about 8 weeks old, at which time they can handle our weather and do just fine outside. But usually the daytime temps in June are fine for even younger birds.

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

I live on a lake and we have hawks and Bald Eagles overhead all the time. I can't/won't let my chickens free range. They are happy, and safe, in their chicken run covered with bird netting to prevent attacks. There are a few people around here that have attempted to free range their chickens.... we call them former chicken owners.

I would love to let my chickens free range, but I prefer to have my flock for longer than just one summer. If you don't have the predator concerns that I do, or if you are willing to risk some loss of birds to predators, then free ranging your birds might be a great idea.

I have to settle for bringing the free range to my chicken run, dumping all my grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and just about anything else organic into the run. Over time, the compost in the chicken run is full of delicious bugs and worms for the chickens to forage. It's like free ranging, but with a safety net overhead. It's the best I can do, but it works for me and my flock.

I keep my chicks in the brooder until about 8 weeks old, at which time they can handle our weather and do just fine outside. But usually the daytime temps in June are fine for even younger birds.

Hello! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

Yes, we actually live on the ocean, so we do have bald eagles, along with some land predators. But our land is also covered with huge pine trees, and tons of places to hide. We are also doing everything we can to make sure that they have the best chances. We have ours for tick control, so a run is not an option. Thank you so much tho!

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Did you really mean to say you plan to free-range your chickens during the night and coop them up during the day? I can think of no situation, even with adult chickens, where that would be a safe practice.

Your chicks will decide when to venture out to free range. Right now, even if you were to open the run so they could go out and explore, they likely wouldn't want to.

Chicks have a strong instinct to understand that they are prey, and especially they understand that their small size makes them twice as vulnerable. They won't be apt to show much interest in pursuing freedom for now.

I have three-week old chicks at this time, and they have full access to the entire run with sixteen adult hens. While they are fearless about mingling with the adults inside the covered run, they aren't and won't have any interest in free ranging for several more weeks.

Usually, between six and eight weeks, the chicks will notice there are open doors leading to the great world outside, and they will begin to test their courage to step out of the run. But they don't go racing off across the yard at first. They instead cling to the apron around the run, staying within its safety and cover. Chicks under the care of a broody may follow her across the yard, but not unescorted chicks. They need to gradually learn to trust themselves to know when it's safe to strike out on their own.

So, for now you may open the run up so the chicks can step outside when they feel brave enough, but do understand that it will be several weeks before they feel safe enough to actually free range. But no chickens should be free ranging all night, even if they were inclined not to want to roost and sleep when the sun sets. Not only are chickens programmed to sleep at night, they understand that things in the night are waiting for the opportunity to eat them, and they seek cover and safety at night for just this reason.

One more question, should I only leave the run open when I am supervising?

 

[NatJ]

One more question, should I only leave the run open when I am supervising?

At first, yes, I would leave the run open only while supervising.

Later, think about what you have noticed while supervising, and decide whether you need to keep supervising.

Your chicks will be a little safer as they get older and bigger. (Because many predators eat adult chickens, but even more predators eat baby chickens.)

 

[azygous]

I wouldn't walk off and leave a run open with just baby chicks inside. But then I live in the wilderness where wildlife far outnumber humans and they will think nothing of wandering into my house to help themselves to food. I have had bears come inside through an open window on several occasions, and a run left open is not something I do unless I'm outside. Bobcats and foxes are even more opportunistic than the bears.

Even in an urban setting, there are wandering dogs and cats, owls and hawks that would definitely go into the run after chicks.

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Thank you so much for all of your help everyone! I have done what you guys have recommended, left the run open when I am supervising, and they have done great. They where actually much braver then I thought, and started exploring the first day. They stay very close within the coop, but each day they go a little further. Whenever they hear a noise, or see a hawk fly over, they run back into the coop. With behavior like this, when do you guys think they can free range without supervision? Thanks again so much!

 

[azygous]

When they are full grown. Around four months.