Personally I will always give them the choice to be out or in, and would in a northern state as well. Well, maybe not in the height of a hurricane, or during a northern blizzard if we had them. They have good down winter coats, and oiled feathers for rain. I figure they will go in when they need to.
Mine are usually out in a lighter rain and sometimes even in a heavy one. I've seen them looking like they just came out of a washing machine, but they were content and foraging. In our heat their coop is definitely cooler than outside, even in shade, so in the heat of the day I find most or all inside. I've read of a lot of chickens not wanting to walk on snow, but they will go out when snow is on the ground if the sun is out and the ground is cleared or protected, or there is something like a wooden platform to stand on.
Mine are usually out in a lighter rain and sometimes even in a heavy one. I've seen them looking like they just came out of a washing machine, but they were content and foraging. In our heat their coop is definitely cooler than outside, even in shade, so in the heat of the day I find most or all inside. I've read of a lot of chickens not wanting to walk on snow, but they will go out when snow is on the ground if the sun is out and the ground is cleared or protected, or there is something like a wooden platform to stand on.
