Bizarre question but emergency related...

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

We are under a tornado warning and I released the flock from the coop.

DH says if they are out they are more likely to get lost and blow away.

I say if they are in the coop and a tornado actually hits they'll be killed for sure by the coop itself. There are lots of places they can hide around here and I would rather they had a chance to use their own skills at hiding and roosting.

Either way it is an academic debate since first the odds of us actually having one is low and once it gets dark - real soon now they'll go home anyway. But, I thought I'd ask - what would you do if a tornado was coming and you had time to either free them or lock them up?

 

[Imp]

Not so bizarre.
I've worried about the same thing, although I don't have to worry about tornados, just windstorms. I worry that they'll get hurt by flying debris or possible get thrown against something in the wind. So I don't let them out when the wind looks like it might get above 60-70mph.
If I lived in tornado country I think I'd have an underground cement coop.

 

[conny63malies]

i think of my family and myself first. .I let them go if i had the time .

 

[basicliving]

First of all, I really hope this turns out not to be an issue for you. How scary!

I think I agree with your husband. My reasoning is that even if you are certain a tornado is headed your way, you don't know for certain that it would be a direct hit to your coop. If the birds are outside, however, the winds from the tornado would be very difficult for them to sustain - even if it weren't a "direct hit". Know what I mean? I would leave them in the coop just because it seems to me that the chances of them getting hurt are greater if they are outside during those type of high winds.

I really hope neither you or I find out the answer to this through first hand experience!

Tornadoes terrify me.......

Take care,
Penny

 

[jjthink]

How many chickens do you have? If not too many, and it were me, I'd put them in the basement (if you have one) until the threat passed. If you have a boatload of chickens, I know this may not be possible. I just have 2, so it's easy.

Outdoors. many a chicken has died of a heart attack in a big scary storm. In the coop, there's less of that threat, but understandably the threat of the coop being taken down. If those were the only 2 choices, I'd opt for keeping them in the coop.

I hope the tornado comes nowhere near you and that for your sake and theirs, this ends up just being an academic exercise!!!!!!!!

JJ

 

[swtangel321]

I also would keep them in the coop, I would just feel better knowing they were in there. And would think they would be much safer in there !!

Good luck and hope it doesnt come near you !!

 

[jhm47]

We are often under tornado warnings/watches here in the summer. Along with tornado's often comes hail and heavy rain, along with high winds. Tornado's rarely cover much of an area, but the hail and heavy rains and wind do. I would worry much more that hail would kill your birds than that a tornado would hit your coop. Hope all is well.

 

[ChooksChick]

I'm in the heart of tornado alley and we've had damage from a micro-burst in the past two years. That's a similar wind-beast.

My girls are better off in the coop for everything but a direct hit, and since a direct hit is so unlikely, I'd leave them in. Having been in this region for the past 30 years, I can tell you the debris from strong winds is always the first concern, the hail is second. Both of those dangers are much more survivable if in a good structure.

If it looked like we would get a touch-down nearby and I had time, I'd go out with a box or cat kennel and stuff the girls in to haul them to the basement with the other 6 warm-blooded animals and 3 family members, but rarely is there that kind of warning. We're actually trying to figure out a plan for the Spring, because we end up in the basement 6 or 7 times every year.

Since you've likely already had your weather pass, I'm curious what your birds did- did they go in the coop to wait it out?

 

[jjthink]

This brought back a memory of a freak wild storm in July in NJ where suddenly there was hail. There was no warning. The birds were out. Once the storm started I ran out to look for them and once found, tried to coax them in, to no avail. Went out periodically to say comforting things to them and to supply treats. A day or so later hen Annie, not yet 2, had an apparent heart attack and died. She was such a joy and loved life so. I half suspect the storm had something to do with her heart attack.

I'll never know but the timing....
JJ