Rain and chickens??

donrae said:

This is a good point folks often forget. Those feathers aren't as water resistant as say a duck's, but they do protect the skin a lot. Most birds can look pretty wet, but if you wiggle your finger down next to the skin, it's nice and dry.

This actually goes for a lot of animals--my dogs can look drenched, but their skin is dry. Horses, cats, etc are the same.

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Depends on the breed though. Some dog breeds have very thin coats with NO undercoat (i.e. Dobermans for example). They are extremely cold sensitive and they HATE getting rained on, without an undercoat the cold/wet goes right to their skin.

I noticed over the years the thicker coated dogs often don't mind the rain but the thin coated dogs will many times avoid it at all costs! Same concerns may apply to some chicken breeds that have been altered dramatically by selective breeding.

lularat said:

The rain is no problem, but I was wondering if any body else's chickens were scared of the wind? My chickens are in a run and when it is real windy or a strong gust, they run to the back of the run.

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Depends on how strong and the air temp. I've seen my girls out in warm weather with enough wind to ruffle their feathers toward their heads and not seem to notice. If it gets too windy they will, as someone else posted, find shelter under a bush or behind a hedge or building. The funniest thing was when it was really windy one day and they all decided to head for the barn with the wind at their backs. Looked like a dozen tom turkeys (only a LOT smaller) displaying. Tails on all, even the Cubalayas with their down tails, were vertical and fanned out even though they were all running.

When 1 chicken runs, they ALL think there must be a good reason and do the same.
Bird in the back to the next one: "Why are we running?"
Next bird: "I don't know but they are all running"
And so on up the line to the lead bird: "I gotta lay an egg!"

They do not like wind when it is cold though.

Bruce

Today would be a good day in NC to see how my RIRs like the rain. But I don't go out in it until it is absolutely necessary. I have a nice dry coop for them to stay in, maybe it will slack up enough for them to get out to the hanging feeder after a while.

bruceha2000 said:

Depends on how strong and the air temp. I've seen my girls out in warm weather with enough wind to ruffle their feathers toward their heads and not seem to notice. If it gets too windy they will, as someone else posted, find shelter under a bush or behind a hedge or building. The funniest thing was when it was really windy one day and they all decided to head for the barn with the wind at their backs. Looked like a dozen tom turkeys (only a LOT smaller) displaying. Tails on all, even the Cubalayas with their down tails, were vertical and fanned out even though they were all running.

When 1 chicken runs, they ALL think there must be a good reason and do the same.
Bird in the back to the next one: "Why are we running?"
Next bird: "I don't know but they are all running"
And so on up the line to the lead bird: "I gotta lay an egg!"

They do not like wind when it is cold though.

Bruce

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Anyone who's every had poultry can identify with the running chickens!

mine are outside right now walking around in the rain. they have a coop and 2/3s of run is covered and dry.

My chickens love the rain except for my ester eggers they dont like it that much. It is very funny to watch chickens in the rain. They walk around like a penguin with their backs straight so the rain will roll off.

sheetmetaltom said:

mine are outside right now walking around in the rain. they have a coop and 2/3s of run is covered and dry.

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Chickens are way more complex than we give them credit. They are foragers, mobile creatures, and need as much entertainment as humans do. Don't humans go for a swim or a day at the beach once in a while too?

Sylvester017 said:

Chickens are way more complex than we give them credit. They are foragers, mobile creatures, and need as much entertainment as humans do. Don't humans go for a swim or a day at the beach once in a while too?

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A G R E E D !

Sylvester017 said:

Chickens are way more complex than we give them credit. They are foragers, mobile creatures, and need as much entertainment as humans do. Don't humans go for a swim or a day at the beach once in a while too?

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We had a downpour the other day. Mine had plenty of dry places to be but they were standing in the puddles having a grand ol' time.

3chickchicks said:

We had a downpour the other day. Mine had plenty of dry places to be but they were standing in the puddles having a grand ol' time.

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We were in the 90's temps today so I had the mister on and poured out some water for puddles. It was so hot that all the wet places were attractive. We had to bring in the Ameraucana tonight to wash the mud off her butt and stomach. The water was black so she must've had a good time outside.