Do you let your chickens out in the cold rain?

[D-Bar-B]

I leave the coops open all day and shut them at night. If they want to go out in the rain I can't stop them. I don't own my chickens, they own me.

So true!

 

[Lizzy733]

If there are strong winds, ensure you incorporate a wind-break on your sheltered area - also, adding a few perches or a dust-bath to the sheltered area will keep them entertained while waiting out the storm.
Mine shelter under the coop and dustbathe through the heaviest of the downpours. It's large enough for them all to fit at once and it becomes a bit of an impromptu party every time.

 

[WarrenHound]

i dont because of their long tails or in some cases feather legs i dont want the mud damaging their feathers and i dont want to risk them getting wet and not coming back from it so all of mine are covered and tarped when it rains coops are off the ground on cement with thick bedding so they stay warm, i have perches of course in there and there arent so many in a pen that they are to crowded so everyones pretty happy with it. i see some breeds having less issues with cold weather and icy rain but ive not had great experiences so i just dont let it happen personally

 

[Manhen]

Read Data: My birds are spending plenty of time out in the cold and rain and cold rain. Just less in the rain and cold rain is all. If I keep the door closed until late dawn they are wanting out regardless. The newest batch of 30 are still kept in their section of the coop at 11 weeks old. Going to introduce them to the general population in the next couple of days, when it's warm so they will feel less need to crowd, and fight...

 

[BigBlueHen53]

DH opens up the hen house at dayight and they charge out, pretty much regardless of weather. We are on Day 2 of rain. When there is snow on the ground they are a little less enthusiastic, but then they usually trot over to the carport to hang out as their base of operations. It's dry, and they can see all around, or at least in three directions, which they can't from the hen house. Sorry, I can't call it a coop, to me a coop is tiny.

 

[feathermaid]

Just don't make the mistake of thinking that hanging out in the rain is the same thing as hanging out in the mud. You want your chickens to avoid standing in wet sticky mud all day. All sorts of disease-causing pathogens love to multiply in mud. Wandering through wet grass, scratching through a deep layer of soaking-wet wood chips bedding, or even coming across some mud while out free ranging is all fine.

You want to have excellent drainage away from your coop/run area to avoid standing water and mud pits. A covered run may keep out rainfall, but doesn't necessarily keep the ground below dry. Even a small roof collects a significant amount of runoff and all that water has to go somewhere when it hits the ground... usually seeping right into the run. Facing the slope of the roof downhill or using gutters to direct the water away will help keep this from happening. If my birds want to go outside and play in the rain, I always let them.

If you'd rather entice them to stay in the dry run, try making it more interesting. Add more perches of different heights and materials, log stumps, platforms, a hanging treat dispenser, a bale of hay to scratch through etc.

 

[The Angry Hen]

When providing plenty of shelter for your birds (such as towering trees, closeby shrubs, etc) in their daily environment, they should be plenty comfortable to shy away from rain if they wish. As far a cold temperatures go, chickens use a sufficient amount of bodily heat. They won't appreciate frigid temps, as we don't either, but will/may show signs of wanting back home if they cannot withstand the weather.
Breeds like Silkies, Cochins, and Faverolles will likely need more shelter or to stay in the coop. My Brahma roo is plenty content watching the snow outside of his coop window.

Hope my info is helpful!

 

[Waves]

when it rains, i just open the coop's door and let them decide what to do.
in 6 years, i haven't seen an hen that was going in the coop while it was raining, but i prefere let them decide
Even my silkies prefere to stay out is my coop so horrible maybe?

 

[The Angry Hen]

when it rains, i just open the coop's door and let them decide what to do.
in 6 years, i haven't seen an hen that was going in the coop while it was raining, but i prefere let them decide
Even my silkies prefere to stay out is my coop so horrible maybe?

Add a tea kettle, checkers, and a television... They ought to change their minds.

 

[Waves]

Good Idea I'll do tomorrow