Its raining like crazy, will my hens get sick?!?

[GardenJen77]

I've heard stories of chicken's dying of pneumonia because they were wet. My chickens are out in the rain and they're soaked. Should I be concerned?

 

[chicklove14]

They shouldn't be soaking wet because they could get cold.

 

[featheredplanets]

As long as they have shelter or can hang around in the coop, they should be fine

 

[3KillerBs]

If they are fully-feathered adults and have free access to shelter they will decide how wet they want to be.

 

[aart]

I've heard stories of chicken's dying of pneumonia because they were wet. My chickens are out in the rain and they're soaked. Should I be concerned?

You sound like my mother, and a plethora of others who blurt out that adage.
But, pneumonia is caused by a bacteria or virus, not cold or rain.

How old are these birds?
Most older birds should be fine, chicks and froofroos like silkies are another story.

I remember the first time my chickens got soaked, and it was mid 40's F.
They looked like 'drowned rats'(another funny adage) on the roosts at night.
I stuck my hand underneath their hard outer feathers and they were nice and dry near the skin. Never worried about it again.

 

[GardenJen77]

You sound like my mother, and a plethora of others who blurt out that adage.
But, pneumonia is caused by a bacteria or virus, not cold or rain.

How old are these birds?
Most older birds should be fine, chicks and froofroos like silkies are another story.

I remember the first time my chickens got soaked, and it was mid 40's F.
They looked like 'drowned rats'(another funny adage) on the roosts at night.
I stuck my hand underneath their hard outer feathers and they were nice and dry near the skin. Never worried about it again.

I am sorry if I am concerned.

I have a lot of money, blood, sweat, and tears tied up in this flock. I am also a responsible animal lover who want's to make sure that my animals will be ok.

A good friend of mine had told the story of how him and a friend had soaked a bunch of chickens while cleaning a barn, and they ended up dying. I have also heard other, similar stories, because chickens, unlike ducks, don't have a water proofing oil on their feathers. So forgive me for being a bit nervous.... I also know that pneumonia can be brought on by a plethora of factors, but being "chilled to the bone" is part of that process.

That being said, 15 of my birds are 1 year or older. The other 21 are 3 months old.

 

[rosemarythyme]

We get rain constantly... last winter, we literally did not have a clear day for something like 2 months straight, to the point that we flooded twice. My chickens have not yet melted (or been swept away, thankfully). Yours will be fine.

 

[GardenJen77]

We get rain constantly... last winter, we literally did not have a clear day for something like 2 months straight, to the point that we flooded twice. My chickens have not yet melted (or been swept away, thankfully). Yours will be fine.

Thank you. Here in my area, many have lost businesses and homes in the last 24 hours due to flooding. Good to know my birds will be ok in all this rain.

 

[aart]

Thank you. Here in my area, many have lost businesses and homes in the last 24 hours due to flooding. Good to know my birds will be ok in all this rain.

Yes, the breach in Midland looks very bad...are you safe?

 

[GardenJen77]

Yes, the breach in Midland looks very bad...are you safe?

Yes. We live just out of the area. Thank you. This ride ain't over yet.