Thunderstorm Behavior ⛈️

[BackyardBuffys]

I'm not sure this is even the right place for this question, but the behavior of my new chickens today has baffled me!

We got our first Summer thunderstorm with flash floods today. When I went to close them in for the night, all of the new chickens, about 3 months old, were outside soaked to the bone, refusing to go in or stay in the coop. My other girls, 4 years old, were roosting like normal. I've never had chickens actively stay out in a storm or just plain ol' rain for that matter.

So my question, mainly out of curiosity, is: can chickens be scared of thunderstorms? Maybe they were startled by the thunder since it was their first time? Or are these just wierd birds, lol!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Had they been staying in the coop before the storm?

How big is the coop, in feet (lxw)? How many birds live in it altogether?

How long have the young ones been living together with the older birds?

 

[Mrs. K]

They are just notional. Rain really doesn't bother them, just toss them in there. I have had snow scare the bejebers out of them. But being wet is not a big deal.

 

[BackyardBuffys]

Had they been staying in the coop before the storm?

How big is the coop, in feet (lxw)? How many birds live in it altogether?

How long have the young ones been living together with the older birds?

They had been staying in the coop no problem. It's a total on 11 in an 8x10 coop. And the 8 young ones have been doing very well with the 3 older girls.

They were all in the coop tonight like normal. So who knows

 

[Penpal]

When anyone gets scared they enter one of three zones: fight, flight, freeze. Your chickens went into freeze. If they are feathered the rain should just roll off. Next time they will probably run to the coop.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

An 80 sq ft coop should have plenty of room for 20 hens, much less 11. So like @Mrs. K says, guess they were just being "notional." Don't worry, after being drenched a time or two they'll learn to get in under cover when it rains. Mine never head for their coop, instead they cower under the carport and look miserable, waiting for the sky to quit falling. I've learned to carry one of their feeders out there if it looks like raining all day, so they don't starve. Chickens, after all, are only smart enough to be .... chickens.