How long does it take a chicken to dry?

Ciqala

Songster
6 Years
Apr 14, 2013
316
41
121
New Hampshire
With the weather getting cooler, I'm curious as to how long it takes for a chicken to dry if it's been out in the rain? I usually lock them in their coop a bit earlier than usual, but want to make sure when the temps really fall that they're dry for when they roost. Thanks.
 
A soaking wet chicken will take about eighteen hours to dry. One that is a little damp or only partially wet would probably dry within a few hours. The size and fluffiness of the bird will affect the drying time. Harder feathered (non-fluffy) birds like OEGB, Rhode Island Reds, etc will dry faster than fluffy Orpingtons and Wyandottes.
 
The thing is, though, chickens out in the rain are rarely wet to the skin. I'm in the PNW and my birds often choose to be out in the rain. Their top layer of feathers are wet, but their skin is dry and warm. My birds have been making their own "be out in the weather or not" choices for 20 years and I've never had an issue with an ill bird from being wet.
 

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