[gsc]

Does this mean keep them locked in the house or just the coop?

[Pretty Chick]

How old are the hens?

[gsc]

They are all point-of-lay but the exact age will depends on which I choose.  I am thinking of having 4 different hybrids.

[Pretty Chick]

What are the dimensions of the coop?

Sorry for all the questions 

[gsc]

The house is about 3'x3' and the outside area is just over  3'x6'

[Pretty Chick]

They should be fine in the coop with access to their house.

[gsc]

Thanks for that.  So in for 3 weeks then I can let them roam?  I have an area protected by a 50m electric net.

[Pretty Chick]

I personally think that you could let them roam after a week.
You could keep them in the coop for a week, so they get used to where everything is and then let them roam.
The most recent hens I bought were black rocks and I allowed them to roam around my garden (I only let the chickens roam while we are at home, for we don't want any predators sneaking in!) with access to their cages/enclosures after about 5 days.
I have done the same with all my other chickens and they have been fine (some are over 3 years old).

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask 

[Casey76]

Do you have a pen bigger than the enclosure provided with your coop?

The "run" with your coop is only big enugh for (at the max) 2 hens, and even then they will trash the grass in a day or two.

I would keep them locked in the coop for 24 hours, then let them out into a pen about 4mē.  They will probably need lifing into the house for the first couple of nights, then after that they will put themselves to bed, and you can increase the size of the pen.

[gsc]

I am realising fast that the run is really only suitable for a new intake or similar.  The sooner I can let them over the larger area the better.

I can move the lectric fence to make whatever size I want so I guess the decision is just when to let them out.

They seem fairly docile - 1 amber star, 1 black star, 1 columbine and 1 blue.

I'm not sure what the blue is actually - she looks stunning - they call her Sunnnyside Blue after their name but I forgot to ask what har parentage is.

[Craig69]

Think you said yours will be fenced in, but if not & you let them out, do it about an hour before they go to roost so they don't wander too far from their house.
And i think a week is the house with run is what i was told before you let them wander.

[grumpydad]

we kept our last hybrids in the run for 2 days before we let them into the garden to trash it.
they have made far more of a mess than the last 6 pure breeds we had, totally fearless.

[gsc]

we kept our last hybrids in the run for 2 days before we let them into the garden to trash it.
they have made far more of a mess than the last 6 pure breeds we had, totally fearless.

Lol - isn't life fun.

I guess I will let them out sooner rather than later but maybe when then poultry netting arrives (electric) - I'm using sheep netting at the moment.