FAST RESPONSE NEEDED: Chickens vs Rain

[ChickyLaura]

I would put them in. If it's cold and wet, I would encourage all of them to go in the coop, even if it's damp. Cold + wet = poor freezing chickens. I see you're from Florida, but this time of year I'd still put them in.

 

[JulieZ]

Today's weather is really discusting. This is the weather that caused the tornadoes in Little Rock (yesterday?) and has moved over to us here in Florida. Thunder/lightening over me (not at this second or my computer would be down) & tornados dropping down in Ocala - just an hour away from me. The weather is suppose to get worse all day for Florida. With my babies being only 7 weeks plus this specific kind of weather, I feel better knowing they are indoors. I know when they feather out a little bit more ... they can play in the rain. I'm allowing the mommy in me to make this decision.

 

[OverEZ]

7 weeks is very young. But if they have the choice to be in or out let them make up their own mind. I'm in Ohio so I lean to making sure the young ones stay dry because of the chilly air. FL may be consistently warmer so I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

[12GAGirl]

I don't know about 7 week old chicks since I didn't put mine out in their yard unil they were over 10wks but ever since then they have been outside during the rain, their run is covered but with old tin with many holes so we have a lot of leaks. They can get in the coop but don't. My SLW goes in the coop when the wind is blowing bad. In addition, my coops never gets a bad smell even after rainy days so I am unsure about that being a problem.

 

[Whimsical Farming Wife]

We are in BC... and known for our abundance of rain! I keep a strong bulb or heat light going in the coop, make sure the litter is pretty dry, and keep the hen door open for them to choose (I don't like to confine the air flow and roaming space). Mine typically will choose to go in when it's really coming down, and if they do go out in it, they dry off pretty quick once back inside. The only time I lock them in is in really cold weather, or before they are well feathered.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

My cornishx sat out in the rain all day today.
They pretty much stayed under the awning, and out of the mud.
They were happy to be put up into the henhouse . ..

They are just fine

 

[purr]

I have a friend in Florida and she said its been cold there lately.Considering their age I would keep them in and dry. A 7 weeks they may not be fully feathered.Just make sure there is alot of ventilation in your coop. I made that mistake last year ,it was so tight with insulation that humidity built up and it was damp and they all had respitory problems.I took a metal rod and poked some holes in the insulation at ceiling and now all is good.

 

[Kristian]

Im really sorry that I didnt get here sooner. In Miami FL WERE WE JUST HIT A RECORD ON THE INCHES OF RAIN PRODUCED. Well I would try to keep them dry and if possible inside and this gose for tomorow to becouse we are expecting some rain tomorow too.

 

[Kristian]

Hope the cold dosn't come back any time soon!
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[lishah2000]

Mine were out in that rain all day and are a wet muddy mess, but they seemed happy. They all had plenty of places to get out of the rain and still be outside or they could go into the coops.

I did notice only the adults are wet, the chicks (4 weeks to 8 weeks) were pretty dry. That means they stayed under the coop because the rest of the run was flooded.

I did have to lift my tom up to his roost. He was too waterlogged to make it.