Let out in Rain or Not?

[Litewings]

Hey Guys.
I've got a question. I've got Three Silkies (you know those furry birds) that I keep in a 4' x 8' coop. I hate to keep the birds coop-up all day. I have a small door that I use to close them up at night for safety and I usually open it up in the mornings as I'm going out to work to let them out into their run. Right now it's raining and the "run" is wet and muddy. Do most people let their birds out even in this type of weather? (I realize that there people who keep their "SHOW BIRDS" in a small pen all the time. But I like to let the little guys out for fresh air.)
Litewings

 

[WilczenskiFarm]

Well, I don't have show birds. That being said, I let my girls do what they do... open the door... they decide if they want to go out. Yes they get wet, but they're not dumb. They go inside quite a bit to stay out of the rain and dry up

 

[hankus]

Mine have a choice stay in the coop or go out. When I get home they are usually wet.

 

[yotetrapper]

I wouldnt lock them out in the rain, but as long as they have the option to go where it's dry, it's all good.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
Did you miss the part where she said she had SILKIES??

Open the door and let them choose. I have some(not silkies REAL birds that will come out regardless of the weather, even if its just to stand next to the house out of the rain

 

[gsim]

For health reasons I would never prevent a chook from getting fresh air and sunshine. I do not have any show birds. Just standard high-production layers, so I do not know the ins and outs of showing birds. Seems cruel to keep in cages all of the time to look good for somebody once and a while tho.

Mine are out rain or shine. That is why God designed them to have oil for their feathers (for all of you that want to bathe yours in soapy water that will dissolve the natural oils).

 

[MiniBeesKnees]

I give mine the choice too...I let mine out to free range on my small fenced rural property. Snow, rain...they go out anyway. I leave the door open so they can go in if they want to. Only when it was so cold for a few days I kept them in all the time but that was because I was heating the coop and didn't want it to cool all the way down before I closed it up again and the heater had to heat it again. The heater is one of those oil filled ones that look like a radiator and it is slow acting to heat, but does a good job at maintaining a temperature.

 

[ray2310]

Mine are soaking wet in the pouring rain right now. And loving it.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

The only time mine don't go out is when there is snow on the ground. That's not because I won't let them out but because they don't like stepping in it.

 

[Ms~Silkie~Girl]

i let my chickens out in the rain, but they aren't showbirds, i personnaly wouldn't let my silkie(s) outside when it is muddy cuz then it gets stuck in the feathers, and their feet feathers