If you’re planning to let your go chickens free range around your garden or land and there’s potential for them to wander, letting them free for the first time can be a worry. But should you worry about letting your chickens out of the run and will they run away if they do?
In short no, chickens won’t run away if you let them out of their enclosure unless they’re frightened or not used to their surroundings. Providing new chickens have time to get used to their coop and run they will stay close by for safety when they’re first set free.
Although chickens won’t run away, they can sometimes wander off as they scratch and graze for food. Read on to find out more about how to deal with this and how to get the chickens used to their coop before you let them loose for the first time.
Getting chickens used to their run and coop
Getting chickens used to their coop and run area is an important step to complete before you let them go free-range.
When you get new chickens at any age they will stay inside the run area for a number of days before being released. This is so they get used to the coop being home and a place of safety in case of danger.
Once the chickens are used to their new home, they can be let out of the run to graze and scratch within your land or garden boundaries.
How long you keep chickens penned in for is really up to you and depending on the birds themselves.
Some chickens are more flighty and nervous than others so they may take longer to get used to their new home, in this case, they might feel safer being enclosed and easily able to get to the coop.
We’ve found that ex-battery rescue hens are particularly nervous about leaving the coop at first, especially because they’re used to being indoors, but given time and as they start to enjoy grazing they grow in confidence.
Birds which are young and may have had previous experience of being free-range before you got them tend to be much more eager to get out and about.
When we get new hens we usually keep them in the run area for around three days before letting them free.
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Letting chickens out of the run for the fist time
When you let your chickens out for the first time it’s a good idea to let them out for a short amount of time at first so they can get used to the surroundings a bit at a time.
This article was first published on October 11, 2020 by Pentagon-Pets.
The best way to do this is by letting them out an hour or two before dusk, so they’ll be naturally be ready to go back to the coop to roost as soon as the light starts to drop.
You will probably find that your chickens stay very close to the coop and are a bit wary when they first venture out, which is good because they should happily go back into roost when they need to.
If your chickens need a bit of coaxing back into the coop a handful of food or a few treats should do the trick.
Getting new chickens used to a call or whistle and treating them when they call back is a good way to get your chickens back to the coop when you need to. If you do have any issues with getting them back to roost you might find the following post useful:
7 ways to get chickens back into the coop to roost at night
Situations which can cause chickens to run away
Chickens might run away due to perceived threats, such as the presence of predators like foxes. Ensuring the coop is securely enclosed and regularly inspected for vulnerabilities can significantly minimize the risk of chickens running away due to fear.
One common situation that may cause chickens to run away is an uncomfortable or overcrowded living environment. Chickens need adequate space to move, forage, and exhibit natural behaviors. Providing a spacious coop and run area, along with proper roosting and nesting spaces, can prevent escape attempts driven by discomfort or stress.
Another scenario involves sudden or loud noises, which can startle chickens and trigger a flight response. Implementing a barrier or buffer, such as a fence lined with dense vegetation, can help dampen external noises from traffic or other sources, providing a serene environment that keeps chickens calm and less likely to flee.
Will chickens try to escape?
Chickens are good escape artists and some tend to spend their time trying getting into an area where they shouldn’t be, especially if they think there’s something tasty on the other side.
Our chickens have a large expanse of land to graze on but we don’t always let them in the garden, instead of being happy with what they’ve got, they spend all day trying to get into the garden and the flower beds.
Pentagon Pet is the owner of this article that was first published on October 11, 2020.
Chickens naturally like to be free to wander and graze, so if they get a taste of freedom they’ll want more and when you keep them in the run they’ll want to get out.
If there’s a problem with a coop and run such as red mites or vermin, this can lead to them trying to escape because they don’t feel comfortable.
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I hope you’ve found this post helpful, the key to chicken keeping is that they all have unique personalities and often react in the opposite way that you’d expect, you will quickly get used to their ways and they will get used to yours!
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This article and its contents are owned by Pentagon Pets and was first published on October 11, 2020.
