Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Casey76 on June 04, 2009, 16:10
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My chicks are approx 7 weeks old this weekend, and they have been outside, penned beside the coop for 2 weeks.
When can I let them range in the garden with my two pullets?
When I do let them range, how do I ensure that they are eating thier grower food and not the hens layer food (or more likely the other way round?!!!)
Will they come back if I let them loose? :unsure: I'm afraid that they'll wander off!
My garden in chicken proofed for the pullets obviously, but I'm still worried about my little chickies (even the boys who are about 4/5lbs now!)
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Mine usually go out free ranging at 12 to 24 weeks old depending on breed.
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My baby bantys are nearly 3 weeks old and outside in a pen (2 dog cages and a kennel to sleep in) with their surrogate mum. Today they have been allowed to go for a walk in the garden with their mum (made sure my other hens were wll away). After about 20 mins their mum called them back (although they hadn't gone far) and they all walked back to their pen. They will be allowed to properley free range in the afternoons only when they are about 6/7 weeks old (kept enclosed in the morning to make sure they eat their growers pellets) and then at about 10 weeks fully free range.
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My chicks are out side now at 2 weeks old , mother hen was going berzerk to be outside so I let her have her own way, they have been venturing out for 3 days now with the rest of the hens, dont apear to coming to any harm.
Geoff
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might try mine a bit earlier then and see how they go although my amberlinks are bullies so will have to watch them :)
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Just a word of advice for those taking young chicks out, don't put them onto land used by older hens. Make sure they are using fresh land unused by older birds.