Do you let your chickens out in the cold rain?

[moniquem]

I'm thinking about making a shelter for them that is open on all sides but has a roof, I'm not even sure they'll use it.

I did that and they didn't use it at all. Mine have a 8x8 covered run attached to the coop but they prefer to go outside and get totally soaked. I too was worried about the wet feathers when its cold but......

 

[BantyChooks]

I keep the door open almost every day; they get to decide if they would like to come out or not.

 

[FortCluck]

I did that and they didn't use it at all. Mine have a 8x8 covered run attached to the coop but they prefer to go outside and get totally soaked. I too was worried about the wet feathers when its cold but......

I have a 7,000 sq ft fenced-in area for my chickens and they have a 8x8 coop. The fenced-in area has part of the woods in it so they can go under the trees, but there's really no leaves on the trees right now because they're all falling off... I used to be so worried about my chickens being cold, but I realized it was just me that was cold not them. My chickens are perfectly fine even in the winter.

 

[Sueby]

Sounds like everyone pretty much agrees on this!

They shall get to decide! I'm sure they all thank you, lol.

 

[Folly's place]

My south coop door is opened every day, unless there's a blizzard going on. The east door will be shut most of the time from now until spring, although that depends too. Right now most of the chickens are outside in the rain. I hustled back inside myself!
Mary

 

[aart]

I used to worry about 'soaked' birds...until I stuck my hand under their wet outer feathers and found them to be dry and warm near the skin.

 

[Phantom_k9]

Just curious as it's getting colder out.

I have a covered run that they don't seem smart enough to stay in on their own in the rain. I know in summer they have no issue getting soaking wet, but I'm thinking I need to keep them in the run during a cold, soaking rain. They get so annoyed when I don't let them out though.

If your property has covered areas, then they will go under there if they want to get out of the rain. A lot of times, our chickens will gather under our front porch when it rains or they just won't leave the coop altogether. But if you feel as if it is too cold or rainy for them, it can't hurt to put them up for the night.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

If its cold and wet, I keep mine locked in the part of my run that's covered. If its snowing, I let them use the other part of the run, but they don't usually go out if its snowing.

 

[N F C]

The door on my coop gets opened every day...rain, shine, snow. Some will venture out into the run and a couple others won't. I just let them decide what they want to do.

 

[Fairview01]

As long as I don't have to be in the rain and her wet, i don't care where they're at when it's raining.