how wet can a chicken get...serious question

[zazouse]

My chickens walk around in the rain all the time, unless it is lightning

 

[MomMommyMamma]

I have been wondering about this too! Our birds stand huddled in the corner of the run and don't get into the coop. The first time we ran out and put a tarp over the end of the run. Now I have just left it out there over about 1/3 of the run.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I swear i've seen mine doing the backstroke in during a severe thunderstorm.

I'm in NC and my chickens don't seem to mind the rain at all.

Snow is a whole nother story

 

[tcmstalcup]

We got a big storm with 5 inches of rain yesterday. It hadn't rained in 5 weeks!! All my chickens ended up wet but didn't seem to be very bothered by it except a OEGB young rooster. My son found him looking nearly dead in a puddle. He was soaked and cold. Brought him in, rinsed with warm water, blow dried, put him on a heating pad. After a about 3-4 hrs he was up looking great and complaining about the cage.

 

[SparksNV]

Monkey - I had to laugh

at the "no sprinkle" comment - I am from Louisiana and understand that concept - but here in No. Nevada where rainfall is measured in 1/100ths of an inch, a spit in the wind is considered "rain"!

No advice about "wet chickens" tho...

 

[Renee J]

I have the same inquiry about wet chooks, so I have read the previous posts... It was mentioned it only matters when extremely cold temps... I have had our 4girls for a few months and this is the first bit of horrible weather; it's pouring and predicted to do so for a week. The days will get just over 10-12degrees and nights 2-6... Would you consider this as extremely cold? And if do should I keep them out of the rain? We have a smallish coop (designed to sleep 6) with a bit of extra shelter but they like to be out in the rain... Wouldn't it be cruel to keep them in the coop??
(We live in canberra Australia)

 

[Hokum Coco]

My experience tells me chickens have enough sense to come out of the rain. As chicken owners are responsibility is to provide them with such as space to spare them from the elements during all seasons.

 

[6of6chicks]

Thanks for asking this. Two days ago I stood in the pouring rain, watching my chickens stand in the rain and get wet, all the while wondering why the silly girls didn't go in the coop! I tried luring them in there and outright shoving them in - and they fought tooth and nail to get back out!

My run is covered and it was just rain blowing in through the hardware cloth (I was the idiot standing in actual rain!), but they congregated at the rainiest, wettest spot. By the end they looked pretty pathetic and I seriously had no idea if it was okay or not.

They dried pretty quickly, and I just decided that if they want to get wet then more power to them. It was 90+ degrees, so it probably felt good. Plus, I'm not running out there every time it rains.

But, seriously, thank you for posting this question - this newbie was wondering the same thing too!

 

[leedle1965]

All chickens need shelter. They will decide when to use it. If given the option, which they should be, they will go inside if conditions are too much for them outside.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

All chickens need shelter. They will decide when to use it. If given the option, which they should be, they will go inside if conditions are too much for them outside.

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