Rain, 36 deg. & they won't go in the coop!

[Beekissed]

Do you handle them alot? Especially their torso/back area?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

What I do is provide range shelters.

I lean pallets up against the woodpiles with dry spots underneath. I put old tin roofing up against a fence with a triangular dry spot under it.

I put canvas tarps up draped over sawhorses. They also stand under the coops. They have plenty of choices and DO use them. But they WON'T go back inside the coop during the day except to lay and sit for a very little while.

Those range shelters get used so much that I would be afraid for them if they didn't have them. And yes it makes the chicken yard look junky. But I want them to be dry and warm. We get a lot of rain and wind.

 

[Beekissed]

I too have plenty of places for shelter in my yard instead of the coop. My chickens love the sheep shed/shelter and the dog barn/shed. On nasty days I will most likely see them occasionally foraging in the rain and cold, then congregating in these areas to rest before doing it all again.

I have one RIR pullet that hops up on one of my sheep for a quick toe warming time in the wool. She ain't no fool!

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

Quote:
Can you post a picture of that please? Sounds cute

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Do you ever feed them any BOSS? I include that in the scratch and I feel like the oils in that help them keep their feathers in good condition. My chickens certainly don't have the same amount of waterproofing on their feathers that my ducks do, but they don't ever look wet either.

 

[chicmom]

This is such a good thread. I get a little bit of anxiety about letting my chickens out when it's cold and rainy, so it makes me feel much better to know it's Ok for them even if it's wet and cold. I don't let them free range while I'm at work. As soon as I come home at 5:00 though, I let them out right away. I feel bad for them because it's almost dark on the weeknights here in Ohio, right now with winter approaching.

They do love to be outside! During the summer they're out every day until dark, then all day on the weekends. I'll have to have my step son let them out on weekdays after school, so they have more time to free range.

A fellow at the Ohio National told me that his birds are much healthier since he doesn't baby them anymore. Good advice!

 

[MaKettle]

Quote:
Do you ever feed them any BOSS? I include that in the scratch and I feel like the oils in that help them keep their feathers in good condition. My chickens certainly don't have the same amount of waterproofing on their feathers that my ducks do, but they don't ever look wet either.

I also posted a question about this the other day because I came out to find my chickens under my covered run & one of my chickens was soaking wet. Her feathers were clumped together in places & you could see her skin. i was worried that she would become ill because it was only 47 & raining like crazy. She kept shaking her feathers off & was totally fine (and kept going to the same part of the run that was catching the rain!).

I do handle my girls quite a bit but they get a wide variety in their diet, including loss of BOSS. What gives?

 

[Beekissed]

As before mentioned, when humans handle birds you are removing a lot of their natural oils from their feathers. I almost never touch my birds unless I have to do so for examining them for some purpose. If you read anything related to keeping wild birds, most advise to never touch their plummage, as this removes the oils and can compromise their weatherproofing and flight.

I know our birds are not wild, but they are still exposed to inclement weather and should be treated like wild birds in this respect.

Can you post a picture of that please? Sounds cute

I have been trying like crazy to catch these two in the act with my camera handy but when I run to get the camera, they stop doing it. You see, this black sheep had a life companion that I culled from the herd due to what I thought was reproductive problems. Black Betty was very lonely after that and sulked for some time....until she found Little Red. They seem quite happy together and she will turn her head around and make her funny faces, like she is trying to talk to this little hen. Hilarious!

Never fear...I will catch this on film sooner or later!

 

[prairiepearls]

What is this BOSS stuff, and where does one get it?

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Black Oil sunflower seed