Rain, Rain, Rain... and wet, wet silkies. Need advice please!!

[EIEIO_farm]

Hi!
We’ve been getting A LOT of rain today, and my California chickens aren’t quite used to it. So today when I opened the coop door to feed them, all the babies ran out and the mama silkie did too. It took me a while to get everyone back inside and mama waited until everyone was back in. But now she is soaked to the bone, it looks like she was dunked in a bucket. Can she get hypothermia? Temps are in the low 50’s / high 40’s. She is practically skin and bones too. Since she went broody and now raising chicks, she sacrifices food to just sit on her babies because they’re cold. Any advice would be awesome!

 

[solidsnake]

I'm in the same boat as you! It hardly rains in California now everything is wet. From what I've read keeping a chicken dry is more important than them being cold. Silkies have a harder time because their feathers are different, my suggestion is toweling her down even if she fights you lol (my girls hate the towel). As long as there is cover from the rain chickens should be ok, and if they eat, those calories will help regulate their heat. Or just keep them in the coop for the next few days until the rain stops, they won't be happy but they'll be dry. I also put an elevated mat (with bricks) so they aren't standing in muddy ground.

 

[EIEIO_farm]

I'm in the same boat as you! It hardly rains in California now everything is wet. From what I've read keeping a chicken dry is more important than them being cold. Silkies have a harder time because their feathers are different, my suggestion is toweling her down even if she fights you lol (my girls hate the towel). As long as there is cover from the rain chickens should be ok, and if they eat, those calories will help regulate their heat. Or just keep them in the coop for the next few days until the rain stops, they won't be happy but they'll be dry. I also put an elevated mat (with bricks) so they aren't standing in muddy ground.

Thank you!!
I think I’m going to take her in and give her a quick blow dry, she’s really sweet so I’m sure she will tolerate it for a few minutes
And you’re right about silkie feathers vs. other chicken feathers! It’s almost like hair instead of a feather, it does nothing to repel water.

 

[EIEIO_farm]

I'm in the same boat as you! It hardly rains in California now everything is wet. From what I've read keeping a chicken dry is more important than them being cold. Silkies have a harder time because their feathers are different, my suggestion is toweling her down even if she fights you lol (my girls hate the towel). As long as there is cover from the rain chickens should be ok, and if they eat, those calories will help regulate their heat. Or just keep them in the coop for the next few days until the rain stops, they won't be happy but they'll be dry. I also put an elevated mat (with bricks) so they aren't standing in muddy ground.

Haha here’s a before and after!! These crazy California chickens have no idea about rain!!

 

[solidsnake]

View attachment 1661600 View attachment 1661601
Haha here’s a before and after!! These crazy California chickens have no idea about rain!!

OH MY GOSH I LOVE HER!!!! The look on her face is just priceless. Lucky her, a free blow dry, I have to pay money if I want someone to blowdry my hair!