Has anyone had their first week free ranging their chickens go terribly wrong?

[DonnaScott]

Are your chickens trained to your coop? Have they been sleeping in the same spot for over a week? Do they go to bed on their own when it gets dark?

You are dealing with living animals. Anything can happen, I do not give guarantees concerning chicken behaviors. You occasionally read stories on here where it did not go well. But I have never had a chicken not desperately want to return to where it normally sleeps if it is coop trained. I think the odds are tremendously high that they will return.

I do not consider it a horror story but chickens do not always understand the concept of a gate. It has only happened a couple of times, but one the first day or two of free ranging I had a few so desperate to get back to the coop that they went up to the fence and tried to get through. They'd pace back and forth looking for a way while the gate they had been using all day was 15' to 20' feet away and wide open. I had to herd them to the gate so they could get in. They did not want to herd in that direction since it was further away from the coop. After a day or two they learned where the gate was but you may especially want to be there the first few nights as it is getting dark to see if they need help.

I read up on the mixed lot I bought of 6 (one didn't make it). Apparently a few are flighty. My one is fast and very inquisitive and I don't want to lose any. I plan on being out to supervise their short time outside when I get the balls to do it.

I had a dozen Guineas and man were they a headache. After mourning half of the groups bad descions I was actually relieved when my last one passed away and believe me...I loved them.

Yes. My birds are all about 12/13 weeks and coop trained except for my Polish roo. He never makes the door to the coop closing time. I hope that fixes itself soon.

I probably should have started them younger but I didn't want to relive past events. I wanted to keep this group safe.

I only ever let my Polish out and he started walking straight into the woods so I suppose I lost my nerve.

 

[DonnaScott]

Clip one wing that will keep them out of the trees.

I'll probably need to get my husband on board because I couldn't do it.

I read it doesn't hurt them if done correctly. So that's probably in their future.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'll probably need to get my husband on board because I couldn't do it.

I read it doesn't hurt them if done correctly. So that's probably in their future.

No it does not hurt them. It's like giving them a haircut. Check the articles section, there's a good one with graphics. We clip our chicks' wing feathers when they are about 7-8 weeks old, then once more when they molt and get their grown-up feathers. After that, they either forget they could fly, or become too heavy. We almost never have to trim feathers again after that.

 

[DonnaScott]

No it does not hurt them. It's like giving them a haircut. Check the articles section, there's a good one with graphics. We clip our chicks' wing feathers when they are about 7-8 weeks old, then once more when they molt and get their grown-up feathers. After that, they either forget they could fly, or become too heavy. We almost never have to trim feathers again after that.

Thank you. Your advice is definitely something I plan to follow.

 

[Sic]

No not the first week, nor the first month, but in the first year, yes. I had a flock of Kraienkoppe go feral, but they are a breed known to do so. I saw them once, but not after that. They were excellent flyers and foragers. They might still be on this island somewhere, if they are, they are probably on the south side, where there is more sun, berries, sedge, etc.

 

[JustMeInLA]

I've had chickens for 2 years now and as there are many hawks around I began watching them and noticed that 45 minutes or so before sunset there aren't any hawks here. I'm very proactive with my hens and several months ago I allowed my hens to forage for 45 minutes with me following. As the days get longer I adjust the time I let them out.
Once I messed up and let them out a bit early. There were 9 hawks circling overhead for a minute or so. I grabbed one hen and hovered over another. The other 4 were in my patio garden so they were safe. I do follow them with a claw rake in hand. The hawks must have decided it wasn't worth the risk and moved on. I pay attention to the clock now.
The hens always head back to the coop before the sun goes down.

 

[RubelliteRose]

When we first started free ranging, we only let them out when someone was outside with them. We gradually increased their time outside and their time unsupervised. The furthest any of our flock has wandered was a young group of hooligans who walked through our neighbor's pasture, crossed the street, and promptly got lost in the first row of soybeans in the field across the street. When we found them, they ran to us, practically begging to be rescued We have had no further street adventures. Since then, we made sure to train our flock to come when we call or even more fun, when we play the Chicken Dance song

Yes. My birds are all about 12/13 weeks and coop trained except for my Polish roo. He never makes the door to the coop closing time. I hope that fixes itself soon.

Your boy is still very young. As he matures, he will probably get better. We lock everyone in a semi-secure run an hour before sunset and my boys usually have everyone in the run before I go outside to shut the gate.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

The beginning time period of free-ranging will always be the roughest, as your chickens are still learning the territory and the predators. As time goes on things will continue to get easier if you allow it to be difficult now

My first year I lost half of my Rhode Island Reds to predators. The survivors were the smart and tough ones and their offspring have only ever gotten better at survival. Each year the predation rate dramatically drops. At this point it's been multiple years since I've lost a chicken over 3 months of age to anything

Clip the flight feathers on one wing.

Flying is how chickens escape predators. I wouldn't clip any wings if her chickens are already struggling with predation

 

[Agnes Gray]

You seem to worry they will leave you, they won't. They will try to stay "home" as long as they feel safe. That said, I've only had trouble when raccoons were getting into my coop through weak spots. My babies decided that the front porch was safer, probably because they were closer to me. I solved all the problems with my coop and they go to bed at night with no trouble.
I live on the gulf coast so we don't need much cold weather protection, we need heat protection. My coop is wire with a sheet metal cover that comes below the roost on the sides, especially the north side, blocks the cold wind. Not pretty but very functional. They go out every day from about noon to night, helps to ensure we get more of the eggs.
A good rooster is the best defense for predators. Our Bob was unbelievable! He fought off as many as 3 dogs at once. We never lost a girl with him. He finally succumbed to his many injuries and old age and I've missed him every day. We had him at least 12 years.

 

[Mrs. K]

A good rooster is grand, but not all of them are geand