Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Justadmin]

Just wanted to gather people's thoughts on when to start letting new hens out for supervised free range? We've had our two girls since Saturday and they seem to have settled in very quickly. They come to the door of the WIR now when I go in to see to them, I have to use my foot to keep them in as I enter.

 

We have a small garden (I really do mean small) but I'd like to let them out for supervised ranging of an evening or weekend when we are around. When should I start doing this? I'm a bit anxious that they'll come charging out and then fly straight up and over the fence. They won't, will they?

 

I also don't want them to expect to be let out each time I have to go in their run. I think I'm trying to be too much of a controlling parent......

[sjp]

keep them in for at least 2 weeks to get used to the run being home then let them out about 30 - 60 mins before dusk it makes round up easier as they will wont to go to bed as it gets dark do that for a few times then just let them out earlier be prepared to bribe them to go back in and to have to chase the odd stubborn one from time to time who will refuse to go back in it want be the same one every time but most times it will be

they shouldn't fly off and they will expect to be let out every time you go out in the garden and they will try every low down dirty trick in the book to make you feel guilty for not letting them out don't fall for it

[Cat tails]

Have a tiny garden myself (really tiny) and I do let the ladies free range, but only on the patio as they destroy anything living within minutes. They get used to freedom very quickly and if you are unlucky, they'll start demanding their freedom like mine do. Very loudly.

Would wait another few days as well and maybe have a tin of treats to entice them out or in. (I use cat kibble)

[Justadmin]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I will leave it a little longer then. When I do start letting them out I'll try to do it at roughly the same time each day so at least there's a chance they won't be demanding it all the time. They're so lovely and quiet at the moment, just little clucks and chirps! We're also surrounded by houses, really closely packed together, so I'm hoping they're going to be quiet ladies!

 

They have a bright orange treat bowl which they already go bananas over whenever they see it (in fact they sometimes mistake the bright yellow dustpan and brush for it ) so I should hopefully be able to use that to get them back in again if needs be.