Silkies and the rain

[Anastatia_S]

I’m just wondering if any has any advice regarding silkies and bad rain. I currently have two 13 week old silkies and the weather where I live in the uk has been dreadful the past two days. It’s been raining really heavy and I’m worried about them getting too wet. I’ve read things online that they can die of hypothermia very fast if they get too wet and I don’t want that to happen. They’ve been out in the run all day and have spent most of the time under the coop seeking shelter from the weather, but they have still managed to get quite wet. Is the rain really as bad for them as I have read or will they be okay? Should I lock them in the coop when it’s raining bad or just let them out to do what they please? They don’t seem to mind the rain at all and have been enjoying hunting for worms. But I don’t want my inexperience with the breed to end up getting them ill.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

I’d say to just leave them with shelter and keep an eye out when it rains.
@sourland

 

[Anime2lover]

I’m just wondering if any has any advice regarding silkies and bad rain. I currently have two 13 week old silkies and the weather where I live in the uk has been dreadful the past two days. It’s been raining really heavy and I’m worried about them getting too wet. I’ve read things online that they can die of hypothermia very fast if they get too wet and I don’t want that to happen. They’ve been out in the run all day and have spent most of the time under the coop seeking shelter from the weather, but they have still managed to get quite wet. Is the rain really as bad for them as I have read or will they be okay? Should I lock them in the coop when it’s raining bad or just let them out to do what they please? They don’t seem to mind the rain at all and have been enjoying hunting for worms. But I don’t want my inexperience with the breed to end up getting them ill.

It's more of a risk when their really young. Adult birds know when they should head in and when they shouldn't. Younger birds aren't as knowledgeable. When their younger you may have to put them in if they get to wet.

 

[Yardmom]

The danger is the cold. If the day is warm enough the rain won't hurt them. If your birds seem fine they probably are. I have a coop of silkies, they seem pretty hardy compared to some of what I have seen said on line.

 

[sourland]

If they get soaked they may be susceptible to hypothermia. More likely with younger birds, but generally silkies are not the flock valedictorians.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Agreed! I keep mine in a covered run so they don’t even get wet. When they do free range out in the rain they seem to have the wherewithal to go under bushes. These are the adult birds though.

 

[Anime2lover]

Agreed! I keep mine in a covered run so they don’t even get wet. When they do free range out in the rain they seem to have the wherewithal to go under bushes. These are the adult birds though.

Mine have places in their run they can go under and know to do so. I find it helps for youngsters to learn in their introduced early to adult birds, and or have a momma hen. Our younger motherless generation of silkies has done fine learning from our other adult silkies.

 

[GenGen3]

If they get soaked they may be susceptible to hypothermia. More likely with younger birds, but generally silkies are not the flock valedictorians.