Freezing rain and bitter cold all next week

[JMotuzick]

calling for 1/2” of frizzing rain today. The app currently says its 30f, they say 35 by tonight but 28 for a high tomorrow. That’s the warm day, not going to brake 25f for the next week...

Should I keep them inside and dry today? Or let them decide?

 

[keesmom]

I let mine decide. A few are out now, the rest are looking disgusted.

 

[Trish1974]

I agree with keesmom. Mine don't mind rain, but apparently a snow flake will kill them! (That's how they act anyway..)

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine get to choose too.

I do have a dry area in the run if they want to use it.

Pretty easy to set up a couple saw horses and screw some plywood on top if one ha a decently large run.

 

[JMotuzick]

Ok, I’ll head out and let them out, just worried as it won’t be above 32f for about a week... thanks all!

 

[tigger19687]

Since we got a thick dusting of snow/sleet last night, Mine stopped at the door and went back in. Like I figured they would.
I doubt mine will go out but left to pop door open and they can at least get some fresh air, even though it is cold.
last night I tossed cracked corn on the floor of the coop for them to play with today

 

[GC-Raptor]

Yeah, I'm in Connecticut and my deck is a skating rink. I had to sprinkle salt down just to walk.
I have a raised coop that I open the basement door daily, except during a Blizzard. They come and go as they please.
They came out today to forage some seeds I tossed into straw in their run.
I let them out to free range an hour or two before sunset daily, unless its a steady rain or snow, or snow more than a couple inches deep. . GC

 

[JMotuzick]

Well, I went out, the driveway is a ice rink so is the run and the ramp to get in/out of the coop. Wish I had it on video, the first 10 or so went right out like a normal dry day(it is just a sprinkle now) they made the first step in the icy ramp and slid the 6ft to the bottom! After about 10 hens did it, one got traction about 1/2 way down then there was a bit of a pile up! The last one was smart and stayed in and then jumped off the side. At least one made it back inside when I was getting the eggs. It was the rooster and he was not happy! He came at me 10 times! I used the growl and kick away method. Finally he went back out side and I skated back in...

 

[adrikeen]

@ CT peeps
EEK! Delaware checking in here....we're not as cold and it's just a plain rain right now. It's really dark and the rooster is very confused. He started his crowing at 9:40!

I sympathize with the ice situation. Hubby and I moved the coop/run this past summer/fall due too many years of falling and sliding down the back yard (ours slopes).

 

[Mraya]

I let mine decide

They usually decide to go out so I am out there with them