jellykelly Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Are there any 'rules' as such as to when I can start letting my young girlies free range. They are 10 and 13 weeks and just seem so little in comparison to my others. If I let them loose - will they come back to where they're meant to, or will I have to hunt them down and chase them around the garden to get them back in. My others are easily coaxed in with food, but these are still scaredy hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 I'd let them out an hour or so before dark, they should go home when dusk comes Wrap up warm and observe them though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 As Tasha said letting them out a little while before bedtime should be fine and observation is a must IMO. However....when "teaching" new chooks to free range I now always rig up a bit of netting so they have a very limited area to range in for the first couple of times. I have an odd piece on Omlet netting (about 7m) that I make a semi -circle around the run door with. this means I know where they are and they don`t have too many options when it comes to bedtime I extend the time they are out for over a week and then remove the netting after a couple of nights of putting themselves aways. I am always on hand in the garden when they are out..........wrapped up warm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 I assume also that they will be out at a separate time to your older girls, otherwise they may get picked on and chased, then scared into running too far and then you may have trouble getting them back. Hope we get to see pictures of their first time out . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted February 17, 2010 Author Share Posted February 17, 2010 Thanks for your replies. I'll send the kids out with them before dinner They can get cold! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted February 17, 2010 Author Share Posted February 17, 2010 When free-ranging, the older ones will be 'shut in' and vice versa. I don't think I'll integrate them into one flock - I may wll just keep them as a seperate little flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Have a handful of corn to chuck into the run to lure them back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted February 17, 2010 Author Share Posted February 17, 2010 Well, That didn't go well. The run door was open, the chooks got half way down the run, saw the open door and then bolted back into the coop. The door was open for 30 mins. I will try again tomorrow and again the following day. Who know's, by next week they may get out of the door!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Awwwwww bless them , it's a big scarey world out there . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Well, That didn't go well. The run door was open, the chooks got half way down the run, saw the open door and then bolted back into the coop. The door was open for 30 mins.I will try again tomorrow and again the following day. Who know's, by next week they may get out of the door!! thats not a bad thing as they fell safe in the run my 3 wernlas girls were the same once one comes out and sees that there are fun thing to do like digging for worms the others will follow.the first time mine came out they didn't stay out long so once they went back in i shut them back in just to be on the safe side this they soon got wise to and there was all ways one that hung back just incase I locked them in earlier than they wanted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 Well, That didn't go well. The run door was open, the chooks got half way down the run, saw the open door and then bolted back into the coop. The door was open for 30 mins.I will try again tomorrow and again the following day. Who know's, by next week they may get out of the door!! I have a three year old pekin that has NEVER left the cube run........she is not timid either.....she just doesn`t seem bother with the world beyond her 7m domain I am sure your lot just had first time nerves and they will get there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
