Clucking in the rain.......

[interlaaken]

Do you let your chickens free range in the rain. I am in Washington. The weather is in the low to mid 40's now. The chickens really like to get out into the yard when I let them. I hesitate to let them out of the run in the rain since they don't seem smart enough to keep themselves dry. Does it hurt them to be in the rain? What about intermitent showers?

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Here in Washington, they'd never get to go outside, if you waited on the rain. I let mine out 365 days a year, All day every day.

Imp in Renton

- check out the Washingtonians thread in the Where are you forum.

 

[chookchick]

I've covered most of my run, since mine are completely spoiled and don't like being in the rain. But I'm sure yours will make the right choice for themselves--at least it's been kind of warm!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Here in Washington, they'd never get to go outside, if you waited on the rain. I let mine out 365 days a year, All day every day.

Imp in Renton

- check out the Washingtonians thread in the Where are you forum.

Give them the choice to go out or stay in and then if they choose to go out, that's their decision.
If the itty bitty sparrows can handle it, so can chickens.
I think my chooks would be happy to see a 40 degree day right about now. They were dodging the icicles falling off the pump house eaves today.

 

[interlaaken]

Thanks for your responses.....I think I will let them out unless it is a soaking downpour or if thunder and lightning are present. I usually leave the doors to the coop and run open anyway so the girls can go back to lay their eggs. They have been real good about not laying eggs other than in their nesting boxes.

Happier chickens = more eggs. Also when they get out, they eat more worms and weeds and less expensive pellets.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
I should add that I have a 3 ft overhang on my garden shed, a deck, a covered run and lots of trees so the hens have lots of options for getting out of the rain, if they choose. The only time I don't let them out is if the wind is whistling through at 60 mph or more. I worry about them getting hit by debris or becoming debris.

Imp- BTW I like your user name

 

[RAWR]

oh ya. they love rain...well the roos do
the hens only get out in it to lay their eggs in "their" special place
but other than that, yeah, i've heard chickens like the rain