What age are the chicks old enough to freerange?

kathy Long · **Joined:** Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:13 pm **Posts:** 9

I have 8 x 3 week old chicks in a guinea pig hutch with a light globe, but the chicks seem restless and more interested in the outside world. What age are the chicks old enough to freerange?

Thanks

Kathy

Roova · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:02 am

Hi Kathy,

What part of the state are you in? 3 weeks is still pretty small for the big wide world of freeranging. Does the guinea pig hutch have an extension which sits on the grass so they be outside but can still move inside to a protected warmer area? This I'm sure would be ok during the day.

If they were with their mother they might be freeranging but they have her for warmth and protection. At that age, putting them down on grass also opens up the possibility of cocci so you would need to keep a very close eye on them.

I'm sure they would love to be out scratching around though. Chickens with mums certainly get a more natural upbringing than incubator chickens thats for sure!

When they are fully feathered they are better able to tolerate weather changes whilst free ranging. Will there be older chooks around? Very young chooks can become stressed easily as they are always on the bottom of the pecking order and older chooks can be very dominating. Keep in mind stressed chooks are more suseptible to becoming sick. Also its best to make sure there is more than one area for drinking and feeding so nobody misses out.

Good luck with them

lordoftherings · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:51 am

I let mine out with their mum at 6 weeks and the chicks show so much independence it was quite funny to watch as they would venture out from mum but as soon as they realised they were just a little too far they ran back, very cute

pekinlover · **Joined:** Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:43 pm **Posts:** 9

the earliest ive ever let my chicks go freerange was at about 4 weeks old but it realy matters on what breed you have( how hardy they are).but 4-6 weeks should be fine.

Fluffy_Feet · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:03 pm

i let my chickys free range form when they start getting feathers 2-3weeks, but i do supervise them so they dont get picked of by a wild bird

kathy Long · **Joined:** Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:13 pm **Posts:** 9

They don't have a mother I brought them from the pet shop which I was very hesitant to do because they were so small. The hutch has a wood shelter which I have a lamp running all the time but during the day they spend their time in the wire section passing up and down I think they may be able to hear the chooks next door. I let them out yesterday but took your advice and supervised them needless to say they had a ball it was hard putting them back. I will take all your advice and gradually let them out slowly.

Thanks a million for helping me out, my little chick thank you too

LOOLOO · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 8:03 pm

I let mine out at a few weeks old but only for an hour or so and like fluffy feet I stay close by keeping a watch for crows and hawks

LooLoo

kathy Long · **Joined:** Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:13 pm **Posts:** 9

Thanks Looloo

Chicky · **Joined:** Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:30 pm **Posts:** 3

My last lot of little bantam chicks got picked off by some preditor 5 chicks in 1 day, I was wild.

kathy Long · **Joined:** Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:13 pm **Posts:** 9

That is so sad chicky, so sorry. I will be on guard

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