We just got into the chicken business yesterday-lol. I have 12 hens and 1 rooster. How long do I need to keep them pinned up? When can I allow them to roam the yard? I live in the country and have a large area for them.
2007-06-14 03:07:55 · 5 answers · asked by coonfield_adams 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
A day or so should be plenty if you leave feed and water near or in the pen. They won't venture far from "home" at first unless a dog or something harasses them.
2007-06-14 03:15:22 · answer #1 · answered by Hondu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
!!!!!
Do be very careful! We've had chickens for about five years now, getting babies every year, and two years we've lost ALL our babies to wild animals. The successful chicks we've raised have been kept in the house until they reach "teenager" status (they stay in a spare bathtub). That's usually about 3 weeks to a month, and then we keep them in the coop for another month or so and then let them out. By that time they look like grown up chickens.
Once we had raccoons eat 10 in one night because they were too small to perch on something to get away from them - out in the chicken coop. And just last month we lost five that we put in an enclosed area under the porch, thinking they'd be safe but they were mauled but not eaten by rats, we think. Since you are in the country don't underestimate what might be around! Losing babies is heartbreaking.
2007-06-15 14:01:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have found that a week works best but occasionally u might get a couple that refuse to go in at night ... we have 1 that takes herself off to god knows where at night and comes back in the morning and 3 that sleep in the trees above the pen ... The others about 30 of them all go in the hen house ....
2007-06-14 16:02:36 · answer #3 · answered by KATHERINE E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may take months depending on if they are happy and fed correctly. If they like their home and don't try to escape then it won't take as long.
Note: when you do release them during the day the best way is to have a window up about six feet that you can open and close to keep predators out. I made a windows with the hinge on the bottom so the birds can roost on it when they enter/exit the chicken coop.
2007-06-14 10:15:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
we kept ours up for week, and she is fine, make sure you watch out for dogs though!
2007-06-14 10:11:56 · answer #5 · answered by Paige 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋