How long to leave 6 week chicks in the coop?

[macmac955]

My chicks are about 6 weeks old now and they spent their first night in the coop last night. How long should I leave them inside so they know it’s home? Asking because I want to free range my chickens.

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

My chicks are about 6 weeks old now and they spent their first night in the coop last night. How long should I leave them inside so they know it’s home? Asking because I want to free range my chickens.

A week usually works for me.

 

[BDutch]

Free ranging 6 week old chicks is not possible where I live. Just too many cats snd other predators.
I made a temporary fence at the coop door and supervised.

From 10 weeks I let the chicks (teenagers) free range under supervision. At 16 weeks the can free range withouth me.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How long should I leave them inside so they know it’s home?

That is a hard question to answer because it is a different length of time with different broods. Ideally you would have a run with that coop so you could let them out to the run until they reliably put themselves to bed every night. Once they do that I'd say it is long enough.

If you don't have a run I believe it is pick a number and take your chances. One week works for a lot of people, there have been times two weeks didn't work for me before I let them in the run.