It's pouring rain this evening, and when my husband went out to put the chickens in, their door had blown shut so they couldn't get inside to get dry. They were so soaking wet they couldn't get up on the roosts. I feel bad, but I don't peek out the door every 10 min to check on them. Anyway, they probably spent at least an hour out in the rain, maybe longer. I just went out to check on them and they were still all wet (they were inside for about an hour). Everyone looks ticked off. (except for the one chicken that got locked inside! she's dry and up on a high shelf mocking everyone). Anyway, it's 48 degrees in the coop and they are wet. Coop is kind of drafty. Will they be ok or do I need to be out there witha couple towels making everyone mad drying them off. I wanna laugh, but I do feel bad.
take out a heat lamp if you have one, or a blow dryer (like for your hair) on low heat (not cool/cold/hot)
You could dry them off with towels, but remember, chickens are outside birds and getting wet is part and parcel of being an outside critter. It's doubtful they're soaked to the skin. They'll fluff out their feathers and dry out by morning. However, I'd work on plugging up the drafty parts of their coop, especially if the wind comes in down low.
Quote:Agreed. And a heck of alot safer approach than trying to rig up a heat lamp real quick. All my chickens were out in the rain today, from the oldest to the youngest. Mama hen took her chicks (10 days old) in before it started to come down hard. The rest could have gone in at any time they wanted, the doors are always open. They're livestock and rain doesn't bother them.
Thanks all for your help. Trying not to humanize them too much, but they did look quite offended they were all wet. I went out and checked them again, and they seem to be slowly drying. Our lamp was still installed from this winter so we turned it on (it's secured very well) and we plugged up one hole that was super drafty. Crossing fingers that'll be enough. Earlier I dried off about 10 tails and fuzzy butts with a towel and everyone seemed pretty happy with that.
We've had a really wet winter with nighttime temps in the 30's and 40's. Orr girls spent lots of time out in the rain by choice. I'm sure yours will be fine. We never toweled them off or anything. They just slept huddled together when they went in for the night and were out in the rain the next morning.
My girls seem to do fine in the rain. They get soaked, then go into their unheated coop and awake dry in the morning. Their body heat will dry them in the coop. They'll do fine. No worries.
All of our chickens free eange and although they have access to shelter alot don't mind the rain, unless it is really coming down. They dry out quick and since your coop is all buttoned up and there isn't any freezing temps they won't be "madder than a wet hen" in no time.... sorry, couldn't resist.
Quote:Haha...! Been there! Quote:You were saying about not humanising.... Hey, I would have been offering them cocoa, so don't mind me...! Great to read these accounts....
Our girls were all out yesterday running around happily in the rain, rain means WORMS here. The boys were standing in the coops yelling at the girls to get inside warm and dry. The girls ignored the boys and ate worms. Get the coop so it's not drafty, they'll be fine.
