Will my chickens run/fly away?

[MrDerek]

Hello everyone

I finanlly got my first batch of chickens last night. A White Sussex, a Cuckoo Marran and a Black Rock. They appear to have settled in ok from what I can see. They went to bed on their own last night and we're ready this morning when it got light (I'm in the North East of Scotland so it's quite dark right now).

The coop isn't the biggest - around 18sq foot in total - and I don't want to keep them cooped up all day. I want to let them out to free range in the garden but I fear that they will run away. Also, the wall between my garden and the neighbours is quite low and I think they could easily get on it and jump into their side.

I've read that they won't stray too far from where they get fed and cared for but will they know that the coop is their home after only 1 day? Should I wait to let them out to free range? Any advice would be great.

Thanks Derek

 

[Pork Pie]

I normally keep new chickens in the coop for the first two nights, then leave them to it - they always return to the coop on an evening time. A low wall will mean it is highly likely that they will decided to see whats on the other side i just hope that your neighbour doesn't have any prized flowers / plants

or dogs!

All the best
CT

 

[Skylercarr]

It depends on your chicken some are heavier then others so they won't try to fly to much. But if you're chickens get in to your neighbors garden too much you can clip there wings but I really don't recommend that. If you're chickens to get into your neighbors garden you might want to make sure that none of the plants are toxic to chickens. Other wise your chickens may die or get very sick.

 

[N F C]

Hi Derek, welcome to BYC!

I like to keep new chickens in their coop for several days so they "bond" with it and know that it's home. That low wall between you and the neighbors could look like an attractive place for them to roost on and then they'll jump down on the neighbor's side. How will your neighbor feel about that? Not everyone wants someone else's animals in their yard. I'd recommend you set up some sort of high fencing to keep your chickens in your own yard.

Good luck!

 

[MrDerek]

CTKen, Skylercarr & NorthFLChick, thanks for your replies - it's much appreciated.

Funnily enough, our neighbour has chickens themselves but they keep theirs in the coop all the time. I don't think they would be too bothered about our hopping over but I would rather they didn't. I think I'll invest in some trellising to make it higher. They also have dogs - one older and one puppy. I would think they're used to chickens though, but don't want to find out!!

I think I will leave them in there until the weekend and let them out when I'm at home to keep an eye on them. Not that I'll be able to catch them anyway

I was quite surprised when they went into the house last night when it got dark. I thought being the first night in their new coop, they would just stay out but they didn't.

Thanks again, guys!

 

[aart]

I suggest that you build a run with a mesh or solid roof to keep them contained but still give them some 'outside' time.
Could be your neighbors keep theirs contained because they don't want them tearing up and pooping all over their own and/or their neighbors yards/gardens.
Also good to have a run in case there is a predator event and they need to be kept safe for a few weeks.

 

[MrDerek]

Thanks to everyone replying.

I tired letting them out last night for a short while whilst I was there and they flew away over the hedge.... only joking, they were fine. They are still quite nervous; walking about like something is going to jump out on them, or when I move, they flap and run about. I can see them slowly getting better though.

Will try again over the next few nights and see how they get on. Hoping one day I can just let them have the run of the garden all day.

I've attached a few photos of the beauties!

 

[Pork Pie]

Great Stuff!