skye Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Our two will be on their third day tomorrow, and I've got the day off. I'd love to see them free-ranging, even for a little bit of time, but the full five days are not up yet! Is it really that important to make them wait five days before allowing them to free-range? ... their pecking order seems only too clear (poor little layla!) and they seem very at home in their new house... what do other omleteers think? thanks in advance skye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Tis up to you. If you fence off an area with temporary fencing to be on the safe side, you should be O.K. The reason 5 days or more is recommended is so that the chooks get time to recognize where their roost is. So you can let them out, if you are prepared to shoo them back into their home at night if they don't find their way. It you have a small garden that would not be a problem - with a big garden with lots of bushes, flower beds, hedges or hiding places - it can be quite fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 we didn't - I think it was 2 days - 3 at the most - and both sets found their way home quite easily And now I am late for work because I keep spending too much time reading this forum (after having spent too much time with the chooks) better dash ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 We got to 4 days & could not contian ourselves (or the chooks) any longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I think we managed 4 days, but we have to stay out there with them due to a couple of gaps in the fence that OH says are too small for them to fit through but I'm not convinced and we have lots of foxes - they usually are put back into the run before it gets dark when we go in, and we trained them with a bell while still in the run so everytime we gave them a treat we rung the bell and now they go completely beserk when they hear the bell and we chuck the treat (handful of corn does the trick) into the run and they go in like lightening!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkButton Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Oh, Mine were out the very next day after I got them... And I picked them up in the evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 we only waited the 4 days because we were working over the weekend so there wasn't time to let them out - allow lots of time, once they're out exploring you can watch them all day it's so funny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janepie33 Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 We did't wait 5 days either, probably about 2 and a half! Our garden is quite small and for the first few days, each time the chickens were out, a human was with them too. I used to keep their treats in a yellow bowl, so each time they saw it they would rush up to me and they were very easy to pop back into the eglu. - A bit like the bell trick (see earlier posting). I like that! Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lost-sheep Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 we waited 4 days and let them out into a small fenced off bit of the garden... beware they can jump VERY high if they decide to free range properly!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam42 Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 We only lasted 4 days too. We give them treats when we want them to go back in and they bang the patio door if it's starting to get dark and they haven't had any treats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 four days, and that was it, but we only let them out under supervision for the first few days and got them to come over to be picked up using treats. To be honest, the chickens were being stalked the first few days, by the children and the dog, who all ran away every time they stretched their wings! It is great fun watching them. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted August 17, 2007 Share Posted August 17, 2007 My ladies have just had a bigger run made for them and they are enjoying it very much-why? Now they can escape through the bush at the end of thier run, sneak across the garden and go and eat the beetroot in the vegtable patch! What naughty ladies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickybaby Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 I kept mine in their run for less than 24 hours and had no problems with them going to roost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
