Thunderstorms

[mamachicken888]

Are chickens traumatized by thunderstorms? We're having a major one here right now and there's a tin roof on the coop. There isn't anything we can do about it with 20 hens and 1 rooster out there... can't bring them all in. But, I just wondered if they get really frightened by sound and lightning.

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

I was thinking the same thing about a hour ago when the storm went through. But they survived last weekends storm just fine. And I have my silkies in the house, only because their coop is not done yet.

I never noticed any odd behavior the day after a bad storm with them. Maybe they are use to it by now.

 

[M.sue]

We have a tin roof on our coop plus it's sided in barn tin. I've been inside when it's been windy and it is sorta loud at times but I don't think the chickens mind...they get use to it. I wouldn't worry about thunder it not as noisy as the tin. A little more pleasant on the ears!

 

[centrarchid]

The thunder and lightening seem not to be an issue. Heavy rain, hail and when on other hand can be stressfull but that very much physical as well as a psychological stressor.

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

The SECOND night my babies were in the coop last spring was the worst storm that lasted for days. They seemed not to care. Even now they will stand out in the run in that weather! (bird brains) I wish I had rain here now. It was 90 today. Miserable.

 

[artsyrobin]

ours have a metal shed and the first storm we had i worried about them and went to check on them- they blinked at the light after they took their heads out of their wings and looked at me groggily like 'whats wrong??'... poor chickens- we humans worry about them and they take it in stride...

 

[LT]

I noticed most of you are from Oklahoma, and I am from Arkansas, so we got the same storm a bit later during the night. I always think about it, because we have a metal roof on our coop too, but I think because they know that the coop is safe and dry, and they are all together, that it doesn't freak them out too much. But then again, we did find a soft-shelled egg under the roost this morning, so maybe someone had the yolk scared out of them!!!!