When is it ok to let my girls out?

I just got my 1st 10 hens yday the lady I got them off said they should be ok to let out in 3 days but my mum seems to think when we had them when I was younger we kept them in for 2 weeks. Anyone know?

Morning Emmared! Welcome to the Clucks and Chooks Forum!

Congratulations on getting your chickens, we'd love to see photos of your new additions!

Does your coop lead out into a run or straight out into the garden?

Personally, I leave my hens locked up in the coop for a day and night with food and water always available. The next day I open the coop to allow them access to the run but because they're so timid and it's all new to them, they don't venture out for another couple of days. Gradually they become more confident and will explore the first few feet beyond the door of the coop but seem to rush back in if they hear any noise.

Chickens need daylight and leaving them in a dark coop for longer than 3 days is a little excessive I think.

Let us know how you get on!

thank you

We left them in coup for 1st day then the last 2 days we have let them into their run.

Think we might let them out into the big world on Saturday.

thanks for advice x

When we got our hens at first we kept them in for nearly a week but there is a window for daylight in their shed. This was because we didn't have a run for them, they went straight out into the open world. They didn't venture far when we left the hatch open for them to be honest. The only one that got a bit lost was Corporal Zingerburger who took a left turn instead of a right and finished up in the field. I sat for ages trying to spot him, then when I eventually caught sight of him he shot off into a neighbours garden. Eventually when it went dark we had to leave him where he was but he must have found somewhere up a tree as he was cock a doodling like nobodys business the next moring....at around 4am. My neighbour was suitably impressed....not. He's not done it since though thank goodness, all my neighbours must have thought I was mad walking up the road with a cockerell under my arm when I eventually caught him.
I always give them something to eat once they're in their shed as well. I think this helps to bring them home, they soon get used to a treat.

Might i just add it might be a good idea to clip their wings unless they cannot get over any fences or walls etc.Last thing you want is to find your hens in next doors garden !
Please let us know how you got on letting them out,and we would love to see pictures of them please.
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We are gonna let them out at the weekend then they should know where home is.
I have a book so gonna clip their wings before release too thanks.

Be sure to clip just one wing as this will cause them to go off balance. Determined chickens can still fly to a good height (albeit very poorly) if both wings are clipped.

Check out the Clucks & Chooks site for info on clipping wings!

How did the release go ? i bet they had great fun exploring their new surroundings !
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They love it we have fenced in the garden so they cant get out and seem very happy rolling in the muck yday in the sun.

Im glad they were ok,always a bit daunting when you first let them out.You wait till you see them actually sunbathing,they will lay down with one wing spread out catching the warm sun,i thought mine were dead when i first saw them do that lol