Free ranging when it's sprinkling or damp?

[tarragon]

I'm just north of Seattle, so we haven't had any summer yet either. My girls are almost 18 weeks old and they are out in the rain right now. If it really starts pouring they wander inside the covered run for a while, but mostly they don't mind the rain. A good portion of their open run is under some big douglas firs, so they aren't directly in it all the time, but I've seen them out in the open grass during the rain. Sorry you've lost some of your flock.

 

[srfjeld]

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Thank you, I just lost my favorite girl yesterday. It came on so fast and less than 24 hours later she was gone. Vet said it may have been congenital.

It's so chilly and damp here, as you know. Just don't wanna take any chances.

 

[srfjeld]

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Yes, we complain about our lack of summer... 2 summers in a row now, but I do feel bad for you, too. One of my girlfriends lives in Atlanta. She said it was 101 today. Just came out here for a week and was so relieved.

 

[Amethyste]

Our girls LOVE LOVE LOVE the rain. Good thing too or they would never go outside lol

We have seen them parading outside when it is pouring outside, foggy, lightly snowing, and sleeting. They do go inside or find cover when it comes down hard tho...and will usually go inside the coop OR under the coop ramp. The water etc won't hurt them, they will be fine

I am a mean Head Hen and make them go inside when it is really nasty outside tho, or extremely windy. They do tell me off big time tho later...but oh well.

 

[aggie9296]

open it up and they will go out if they want. leave it open and they can go back in if needed.

 

[tarragon]

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Amethyste, I just looked at your BYC page after noticing you live near me. I'm on the other end of Mill Creek. I just loved your story of dear Esther getting some babies!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

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Ours are the same. They don't like it outside when it's too sunny. When it's overcast or rainy they love it outside. We have the doors to the hen house open every day, rain or shine.

 

[JodyJo]

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Hi Pam,
I live in southern Colorado, where it gets to -30 in the winter...my chickens don't stray too far out of the run, and stay close with snow on the ground, not to say this freezing temp and snow kept them from getting frostbit combs! dummies...this year I will not open the run on such cold days, they can adjust to almost anything...your chickens will do just fine on colder, snowy days...its just sometimes you have to be the boss do whats best for them. Mine will scream and cry all day, but I won't let them free range in that temp again!

 

[Kitty Cat]

I've never had any of my chickens get sick from being out in the rain. I think as long as it isn't really cold rain and they don't get soaked to the skin they should be okay. Most of the time they don't care anyway. Mine will stay out in the rain until it's super heavy rain.

 

[ID Pam]

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Hi Pam,
I live in southern Colorado, where it gets to -30 in the winter...my chickens don't stray too far out of the run, and stay close with snow on the ground, not to say this freezing temp and snow kept them from getting frostbit combs! dummies...this year I will not open the run on such cold days, they can adjust to almost anything...your chickens will do just fine on colder, snowy days...its just sometimes you have to be the boss do whats best for them. Mine will scream and cry all day, but I won't let them free range in that temp again!

Thanks so much for your comments. I guess I will get a thermometer to hang on the coop and play it by ear. You are far colder than I am, for sure. I did choose cold tolerant birds but I agree that there is no point in letting them out in truly nasty weather. Normally our snow is sparce and very dry. It almost always snows at night when they would be inside anyway. I tend to err on the caution side. My dogs are all in the house at night and if it is truly cold and nasty they are only outside for short periods during the day. I have two 12 year old Aussies and do not think it is a good idea to encourage the senior dogs to lay down in wet snow or icy concrete. They might as well be sleeping on my bed. The year old Mastiff is too short coated to leave out, although he would probably think it was great fun. So they are out long enough to run around, eat snow, relieve themselves and then back in to sleep by the pellet stove.

Pam in ID