Bit of a dumb question but how rain resistant are chickens?

[Going Quackers]

My babies are out in the run today, the weather is consisting of periodic down pouring rain. They have an A-frame shaped building, as well as a roomy box .. mind you none seem to be using any? i'll admit this has been the first rain they have experienced we've been in a sorta drought and they are locked up at night.

They are basically 7wks old(sorry brain is fried lol needed to re-count)...

I'm sure they are fine, i just know my ducks couldn't care less about the storm, i just don't wanna soak the chickies lol

 

[americanvalkyrie]

Ducks absolutely love getting wet. Chickens are quite the opposite. A little water won't hurt them, but they need a place they can always get out of it. And the smaller they are, the worse they'll do if they get chilled. If you see that they're out there getting soaked, I'd chase them back into their building. Sooner or later they'll learn to go in, but they're still pretty young.

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

Chickens are stupid. A few of mine would stand outside and get soaked eventhough they had perfectly good shelter. At 6 wks old though you should make sure they get out of the rain, it could make them sick.

 

[Going Quackers]

Ok.. ill keep an eye.. for now it appears it's clearing.. the run is in a fairly sheltered area but since they don't have a mum and obviously have no clue what rain is i don't want to well, drown them lol

 

[canesisters]

The 'Old Timers' would say that chickens are as smart as they need to be. My babies were raised in a brooder inside the barn and were about 10weeks old when they finally moved to the coop. As far as I know, they had never been rained on. But when I hooked up a mister on a timer to help cope with this 100+ heat - the very first time it came on they made a mad dash for the far side of the run.
I would worry about fluffy babies - since their Mom would probably have been protecting them from the rain and the chill that may follow. But other than that - not so much.

 

[Going Quackers]

The 'Old Timers' would say that chickens are as smart as they need to be. My babies were raised in a brooder inside the barn and were about 10weeks old when they finally moved to the coop. As far as I know, they had never been rained on. But when I hooked up a mister on a timer to help cope with this 100+ heat - the very first time it came on they made a mad dash for the far side of the run.
I would worry about fluffy babies - since their Mom would probably have been protecting them from the rain and the chill that may follow. But other than that - not so much.

True that. They seem ok, neither super soaked, nor shaking just happily pecking around, like chickens do. They are pretty feathered already.. they are nearly 7wks.. dunno why i said 6 doh!

They have been going outside for a few weeks now, but we have had no rain, only heat.. it's pretty warm today 70 with humidity 84

 

[RonC]

Mine want nothing to do with water falling from the sky. They huddle under their coop when it rains. Tried one of the little personal misters before investing in something larger and they ran to the other side of the run as far as they could get.

 

[Panth]

LOL, mine are the opposite. They love playing in the mud and wet grass AS it is raining. They really like gloomy, rainy days...its when they go the farthest freeranging. I purchased a small mister for the "baby" run and they will play in and out of it all day.

 

[7L Farm]

My chickens could care less about rain they just want out of the coop. They won't get sick mine stand out in the rain when its 39 degrees outside & raining. I watched them one day no kidding it was freezing drizzling rain they stood at the wide opened door right in the doorway & just stood there & got soaked. I kept telling them go in nope they just stood there wouldn't go in. Heck with that I went in the house.

 

[Coopini]

My girls HATE to get wet and will do everything they can to stay dry.