Am I being mean?

[Guinea Goonie]

I have been told that chickens love the snow. I know they love ther rain, they are crazy about the rain. I too would worry about the wet feathers in a cold coop at night. But, I really do not know what is right or wrong here. Personally, I would keep them in the coop if they are free ranging. But, i really do pamper my birds. It is almost to the point of being dumb. Trust me, my chickens really do like me. They like the bread, the scratch, the water......

 

[what was i thinking]

it is freezing raining here now. i have the window in the coop open (big full size window) and i have three girls sleeping on it. it tilts in. i don't think i have shut it yet. they aren't wet but that has to be cold sitting there.

 

[Dill]

I'd rather be safe than sorry. My duck Will wouldn't get out of the "lake" (its really just a biiig pond) at dusk. I tried everything exept swimming out to get him (It didnt occur to me for some reason even though i wanted an exuse to swim in the lake for years) and it only got down to the late 30''s, early 20's no rain, or snow (never snows here) and he got pheumonia and died

None of the other ducks did though and they were out in the lake too..

 

[mamaKate]

My chickens hated the snow. One of my Leghorn hens flew about 40 feet from the coop to the porch so that she could be close to us without touching the snow.

 

[jacyjones]

I would let them out - like a lot of people have said I think they will decide when they need to go back in out of the weather. My chickens hate rain and snow and spend a lot of time sheltering in the stable or under the overhang with the horse! They also stay in the shed if it is really wet and come out when it clears up. I think you should give them the chance to find their own comfort levels.

 

[curliet]

We've been having some mixed rain and snow here too, and I am letting my girls out in their enclosed run for most of the day. they can go in and out of the coop if they get cold. But at around 4:00 pm I let them out into the yard for about an hour. Since they are birds they must have some protection that nature built in for the rain and cold, but as domesticated birds, maybe some of that protection isn't quite as good as it once was.

 

[AllChookUp]

Love the snow pic, silkie! Can't wait to get a pic of my own with my new flock this winter.

We've got snow starting this afternoon, from what the "meteorologists" tell us.

.

 

[basicliving]

I agree with most of the posts so far - open the chicken door and let them decide. Mine were outside all day long in rain today. They love it. And they were all tucked in on roosts as it was getting dark tonight.

Confining your chickens may cause you more trouble than just letting them out. I've learned that there's little worse than a bored chicken.......

Penny

 

[cmom]

My big girls go in and out at their will. My little girls go in and out during the day, but I shut them in at night.