Rain - Open the Hatch?

[mdohertyjr]

We have 6 week old chickens. They stay outside from 6:30 am to 8:15 pm (when they put themselves to bed) and we close them up for the night.

So, they have been outside for a few weeks, and there has been no rain. But the next few days, it will be showers and possible rain.

At 6 weeks old will they be ok outside in the rain, or should we keep them in the coop?

Thanks!

 

[Cazook]

they are good at seeking shelter themselves. i would give them the choice to go out or not.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Absolutely will be fine in the rain; that's some of the best bug hunting time!
Be aware that rain could cause cocci and their eggs to rise to the surface of water puddles. This opportunistic parasite preys on the young, the elderly and the otherwise ill birds in your flock. You little ones may or may not have had sufficient time to build resistance to them.
I would recommend treating their water with amprolium (aka Corid) for the week-long recommended course for coccidiosis (the name of the disease that they contract when their little bodies are overwhelmed by the cocci) at your earliest convenience. The medication functions by imitating a B-Vitamin that the cocci consume as food, so do not offer your flock B-Vitamin supplementation while they're ingesting the amprolium, but DO offer nutritional supplements after the full course of treatment has been administered.
This prophylactic approach will give your feathered babies the best possible outcome to their more than probable extra exposure to cocci and their eggs.
As your flock matures their immune systems will automatically toughen up to this nasty parasite and treating them for coccidiosis will only be required if they have other, underlying issues that reduce their ability to defend themselves from disease or parasitic overload.
Grab a comfy spot so you can watch your babies play in the rain! This is gonna be GREAT fun!

 

[rosemarythyme]

As long as there's areas for them to take shelter to get out of the rain they should be fine. Doesn't hurt to keep an eye on them to see how they react, but I've never worried about chicks out in the rain.