Rain and chickens??

TheEggCollecter said:

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.

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My APA Ameraucana who I guess is closely related with Easter Eggers is one kooky spooky klutzy chicken. She naturally either walks like a penguin or runs low to the ground. She is so darn sweet and calm when we handle her for baths or health checks. But outdoors she's a frenzied alert wild child. So spooky that if she's not with the flock, she'll tuck under one of our low lean-to's or the coop to hide or snooze. After a close call with a Cooper's Hawk she is very wary as if she needed to be any more jittery. Nature of the breed I guess as my friend says her Ameraucana and 3 EEs are the same way.

It was in the 90's today and poor thing was panting all day. Ameraucanas are good cold climate breed but need extra watching in heatwaves. We picked up some Gatorade Frost to put in the drinking water tomorrow for electrolyte hydrating. Pedialyte was ridiculously outlandishly EXPENSIVE and Gatorade is a good alternative - same ingredients at 1/4 the price!

Good to know that chickens can manage in the rain. My wife is a bit... protective.

Jaybo said:

Good to know that chickens can manage in the rain. My wife is a bit... protective.

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She will learn. I think we ALL started by being very protective. Just like with children. But you and she will figure out that, for the most part, chickens don't do things that are dangerous to them (other than crossing the road I suppose). If they are wandering around in the rain, they are HAPPY! If they don't want to be out in the rain, they will find some shelter. If they are confined to an outdoor run you should have some of it covered for protection from both rain and sun.

Bruce

Not sure you can see it but the vertical white lines on the black chicken is rain coming down.




The haze in the upper right is on the the camera lens but those sparkly white things are rain drops on her back and you can see the rain coming down is a lot more than a drizzle.
It really let loose not long after and she ran for the coop. Came back out when it let up.

bruceha2000 said:

Not sure you can see it but the vertical white lines on the black chicken is rain coming down.




The haze in on the the camera lens but those sparkly white things are rain drops on her back and you can see the rain coming down is a lot more than a drizzle.
It really let loose not long after and she ran for the coop. Came back out when it let up.

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Good capture shots. I never thought of taking rain pix!

Sylvester017 said:

Good capture shots. I never thought of taking rain pix!

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I only did it because I thought of this thread when the girls were out in the rain AND the camera was handy
Figured what better way to show people that Yes, chickens can handle being out in the rain - if voluntary. I would never throw one out in the rain.

My 9 week old chicks hate the rain... they have been out for a couple weeks now and at first it was really nice out, 70-80 highs, lows in the 60's. we got a bit of a wet cold front this week, highs in the 60's, lows in the 50's and lots of rain. they either go under the coop or in it, don't see much of them during rainy days. can't say they are unhappy or in anyway being affected in a bad way, its just what they do, as much as i can figure.. if your temps are dipping into the 40's and your chickens are wet, it couldn't hurt to give them the lamp for a night.. but your in florida, so your good. lol.

Mine would stay out of the rain when they were small as well. It wasn't until the were full grown that they didn't seem to mind a light rain. And most will still go in if it is raining as much as it was in that second picture.

bruceha2000 said:

I only did it because I thought of this thread when the girls were out in the rain AND the camera was handy

Figured what better way to show people that Yes, chickens can handle being out in the rain - if voluntary. I would never throw one out in the rain.

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Yeah, you wouldn't want to throw the chicken out with the bath water - I mean out into the rain!

Mine love the rain. They look for worms and go about their day.