My silkies are being SO weird!!

[angsaidso]

HI everyone! Question ...does anyone else's silkies (and other chickens too) just stnad out in the rain? I ask because, although they have sufficient cover and a place to go to be warm and dry, they opt to stand in the rain looking like bedraggled little soaked fur balls!!! They start out eating and picking worms and other fun stuff that comes out in the rain and before you know it they just stop and stand there looking like neglected puppies. I don't even like to watch them. They have a lean to style enclosure to go in which they use all of the time otherwise.

They (and my Polish) seem to like being wet and soggy, but my concern is it cannot be very good for them. I mean I don't worry about htem freezing (it's warm now finally), but I worry about colds or infection. They seem to not mind it ... they have done it regularly in the spring rains. I know my hertiage turkeys could care less about the rain .. they stay out in all weather no matter what and I just accept the fact that they seem to know better than I do what's good for them. But I am truly wondering about the chickens.

Can anyone tell me if this is okay? Should I put a door on the lean to and close them in when it's raining? Are they okay and I am just being an over protective "mother hen"??

Thanks!
Ang

 

[sourland]

This is normal behavior, and chickens have been doing this since the beginning of time.

 

[angsaidso]

Sourland - I guess I just figured they know better what they can tolerate than I would, but then again, I am new to silkies ... I wanted to be sure! Thank you!

 

[sourland]

A couple of years ago we were on a trip to Europe and in one of the galleries we visited there was a beautiful painting of chickens in an orchard in the rain. Made my trip.

 

[luvmyEs]

My silkies (and other chickens) will stand in the pouring rain too. I used to worry, but finally decided if they didn't want to they had the option not to!