Should hens be out in the rain if it's cold?

[3KillerBs]

For things like this I try to remember that chickens know how to be chickens better than we know how to be chickens.

If you give them the ability to choose in or out, shelter or exposure, wet or dry, they'll act appropriately according to their instincts.

I've seen mine foraging around their pen in what I thought were quite miserable conditions but they were fine.

They are barnyard animals.... it’s perfectly fine.

This.

Chickens are tougher than many people think.

 

[OffGridChook]

So my four girls are totally fine this morning. AND! I had four eggs!!! All four are laying!! Woooo!!

 

[3KillerBs]

So my four girls are totally fine this morning. AND! I had four eggs!!! All four are laying!! Woooo!!

I got my first egg on one of the nastiest, wet, cold, not-quite-freezing-rainy days we've had all winter.

 

[OffGridChook]

So, more weirdness. Yesterday it hailed for a few hours. We’ve had a rough week, a lot of snow, more rain, sleet and yesterday was hail and rain. They were stuck in the coop for most of two days but yesterday I gave them a tarp as shelter so they weren’t “cooped up”. Some were eating hail. Fabulous. But I have a chicken who laid an egg the other day either while on the roost (or while eating) and this morning! Two soft shell eggs (one smaller and burst, spilled everywhere) and the other with a small hole. Under the roost!! The other three laid their normal eggs in the boxes. I should probably post this in another thread? I know they’re brand new to laying but three soft eggs thus far. And I think it’s from one hen. I’m starting to worry.