Rainy, Cold and Windy- best to leave chickens inside today?

[JoeInPA]

Coincidentally, since I've had my chickens, we've had pretty good weather, mostly dry and warm.

However now the weather is changing and today is cold (45°F), windy and rainy. My run is covered but it's not totally rainproof, the wind can definitely blow rain inside. My coop on the other hand stays very dry.

My coop and run aren't attached (working on that) so I can't just leave the door open and let the chickens come and go as they please. I'm wondering if maybe it would be best to leave the chickens inside today? They have food and water in the coop.

The cold isn't what worries me, it's the rain and the wind that I'm more concerned about. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be drier and less windy.

 

[Duck_life]

Coincidentally, since I've had my chickens, we've had pretty good weather, mostly dry and warm.

However now the weather is changing and today is cold (45°F), windy and rainy. My run is covered but it's not totally rainproof, the wind can definitely blow rain inside. My coop on the other hand stays very dry.

My coop and run aren't attached (working on that) so I can't just leave the door open and let the chickens come and go as they please. I'm wondering if maybe it would be best to leave the chickens inside today? They have food and water in the coop.

The cold isn't what worries me, it's the rain and the wind that I'm more concerned about. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be drier and less windy.

I'm in PA to, I got bad rain last night, I let mine in early.. well they went in on their own I just locked them in.. My ducks stayed out though. I think It would be safe to let them in if their coop is big enough, when I put them away yesterday, since i'm on a hill I slipped on the mud . So that was quite the day yesterday. My ducks stay outside though.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

If your coop is large enough so they are comfortable being inside for long periods I would leave them in, especially if they have no way to get out of the weather.

 

[JoeInPA]

Right now I have 5 birds, two are in the coop and they have been sleeping there for about two weeks or so.

The other three are still in a brooder in the garage, but they are pretty much ready to go into the coop, I've only been holding off on putting them in the coop because of the colder weather and I don't want to temp "shock" them. It's supposed to warm up into the 70s this weekend and they will probably get moved in with the other two at that time.

 

[JoeInPA]

when I put them away yesterday, since i'm on a hill I slipped on the mud . So that was quite the day yesterday.

Lol that sounds like the story of my life. We used to have ducks when I was kid, they were a lot of fun. They stayed outside pretty much all the time. The cold and rain never bothered them.

 

[Duck_life]

Keep them in the coop, looks big enough, but only if its gonna be bad, I don't watch the news so

 

[DobieLover]

Right now I have 5 birds, two are in the coop and they have been sleeping there for about two weeks or so.

The other three are still in a brooder in the garage, but they are pretty much ready to go into the coop, I've only been holding off on putting them in the coop because of the colder weather and I don't want to temp "shock" them. It's supposed to warm up into the 70s this weekend and they will probably get moved in with the other two at that time.

View attachment 1936929 View attachment 1936930 View attachment 1936931

Curious... Why is your run not attached to the coop? When they start laying eggs, what are you plans to collect them?
If your run was attached to the coop it's a very simple answer: leave the pop door open and let them come and go as they please.
I'm north of you. It was 41F and raining when I left. The chickens were out and about in their 1/3 acre pen scratching away. This is nothing for them. They've been out in worse and did just fine. They can go into their covered run or the coop as they please.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I agree keep them in, but could you bungie cord tarps around the outside of your run? I did and it helps quite a bit.

 

[Callender Girl]

I think it depends on the birds. Some of mine have chosen to go into their attached runs today, and some have decided they would rather hang out in their coops while the weather is in the 30s. Among those braving the cold are my little Cochin Bantams and my much-larger Sapphire Gems.

Before winter takes over, I am preparing to put up clear plastic around my runs to offer some protection from wind and snow. I freak out about everyone's comfort every winter; it's a tradition for me.

 

[JoeInPA]

Curious... Why is your run not attached to the coop? When they start laying eggs, what are you plans to collect them?
If your run was attached to the coop it's a very simple answer: leave the pop door open and let them come and go as they please.
I'm north of you. It was 41F and raining when I left. The chickens were out and about in their 1/3 acre pen scratching away. This is nothing for them. They've been out in worse and did just fine. They can go into their covered run or the coop as they please.

Well it was attached to the run at first. Then some other members of the house decided that the coop/run should be located in a different part of the yard. So I was able to move the run as it is easy for a couple people to lift, but the coop is much much heavier and I need to reinforce the legs on it and attach some wheelbarrow wheels so that I can move it into place next to the coop.

If the weather wasn't so lousy, Id be working on it now. Once it's in place, I'll set it level and attach it. Then I can just open the door and let the chickens decide what they want to do.