Chickens in the Rain

If it's warm I let my chickens run around in the rain. Some days they look like drowned rats. In cold weather I keep them locked up in the coop because they will get soaked and probably very cold.

 

haha. i have ducks, i've never had to worry about them getting cold when they are wet!! i also don't have to worry about them getting too dirty and not being able to get clean. they give themselves baths!!!! sorry. i just felt the need to post this. i'm not trying to make fun of you or anything. but i agree with the post above even though i don't have chickens. thats what i would do.

 

Full grown chickens are fine in the rain. Mine have been playing in it all day.
They've also played in ice storms with absolutely no harm done. It was just another day to them.

 

The only time I dont open the coop is when its way below zero. it rained today, some were out some stayed in. Ive done this for a year and a half with no problem.

 

My Leghorn Rooster prefers to sleep in the rain. Don't ask me why. I have no idea why. He is 1 year old and refuses to go in the 3 coops that I have for my chickens. And there is PLENTY of room. He sleeps high on this platform that I have "re-constructed" just for him after finding out his weather of choice to sleep in. It's weird. I have tried putting him in the coops for weeks at a time and he makes a BIG FUSS and irritates the rest of the hens and roosters. He will not stop making noise until he GETS OUT. So, I let him out and he gets back on his platform, finds his spot and tucks in his head and goes to sleep. I have a wild turkey that sleeps next to him, so there are no hawk or owl predators that have tried to attack him.

 

The rain doesn't seem to bother my chickens in the least bit. When it was in the "negative" temps, I made the stay in the coop but the rest of the time they when outside. They do have a covered area but given a choice of staying in the covered area or going out to the yard, they take the yard unless it is very hot. Do you have hardy breeds?

 

My chickens decide for themselves if they want to go out in the rain or not. Most generally they do.

 

Mine all run around in the rain. I worried about them aqt first but they seems to be happy as clams. They do spend more time in the coop when it rains though.

I just make sure they have food and water in the coop during nasty weather other than that they choose for themselves.

 

They will come in if they are cold, if not they are fine, Nature has a way of taking care of itself.