Free ranging when it's sprinkling or damp?

Quote:Shure, My girls don't normally want to leave the run when it's sprinkling but it won't hurt them. Remember, chickens where made to survive without coops and runs. So they have oils to repel water like a duck

 

Mine are often outside when it is lightly raining. They will get wet, but if they have a nice dry coop, they should be fine

 

I live in the Boise, ID area and the summers are normally pretty dry. My 20 chickens have a coop large enough if the weather is truly ugly. I had a heat lamp in this spring when they were old enough to be outside but still immature. I switched it to a regular light when it warmed up a little (finally) and turned it off completely at the weather moderated. They free range during the day and have a large covered pen for night time security. The run is against the house so it is well protected on one side. I am wondering about winter. I presume snow is not their favorite thing. However, I also presume that it would not hurt them if they choose to go out and explore. The last several years we have had a minimal amount of snow. Night time temps maybe as low as the teens for a few days at a time. Day time temps usually above freezing, probably 90% of the time. At this time I have food and water in the run. When it gets cold and nasty, I will move it back into the coop where there is electricty for a light and to use the plug in waterer to keep it from freezing. There is no door on the coop, so they will always be able to get out in the covered run. I would prefer to let them run around outside during the day if they wish to do so. Maybe someone with some cold weather experience will share their knowledge with me.

Pam in ID

 

I would assume so

I soaked my run yesterday and they were squawking trying to get away..but it was 103 and heat indexies much much higher...I figured it didnt hurt them...altho
they didnt like it lol...prob cooled them down some!

 

I'm not too far south of you and I would say yes. Give them the option. Some won't mind the rain, most of mine are too spoiled. I let them out, they go hang out in my woodshed! Some hate getting rained on. But sprinkling they don't seem to mind much at all.

 

Mine have the coop open every day regardless of weather. If it rains they usually make their way back to the coop, under the horse trailer, into the garage, wherever they see fit (and usually with the yard cat in tow, who thinks he's one of the flock). When it's just spitting they usually stay out foraging, but when it starts raining too much for their taste, they'll find cover.

 

I moved out to Delaware from Gresham Oregon in 2004.

Ok, you Oregon guys with the weather like it is now for you make me sick.....

I got a text from a friend in Vancouver and they told me like 71 degrees and only a few days over 80. Geeze, make us envious or what.

 

We open the coop let them decide what they want . They are in & out of the coop most of the time they are in the tree line next to the coop. When it is getting ready to really rain they head for the coop. They are only confined to the run when we are gone.

 

Quote:x2. In my case, under the bushes, or under the wheelbarrow. Never in the coop. Not even in the hail. They get really upset when I made them go inside because I was afraid the hail would hurt them.