who leaves their chickens in the coop when it rains?

[jeannieo]

Inquiring minds want to know! it's been pouring for two days and their pen is sloppy, messy

and I haven't had a chance to dig it out and replace with sand and I doubt if I will before the snow flies. Half of the pen is enclosed with a tarp but do think they would be smart enough to go there? But nooooooooo!

so who leaves them in?

 

[Ang]

I always open their coop unless the rain is blowing into it.

 

[karl lutz]

My coop is open every day at sunrise or before rain or shine. They wade in the mud and never complain.

 

[jenjscott]

Mine look awful, but they won't voluntarily stay in the coop unless its raining cats and dogs. So I let them come and go as they please.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Mine, too. There have been plenty of threads on here on this subject, and I'd say this is the usual approach.

 

[thechickenchick]

I don't make any exceptions for rain, but we don't get much of that here.

We do however get snow. Unless the wind is howling and filling the coop with snow or it is under 15 degrees then I open the door. Yes! they do go out in the snow and they don't mind 18-20 degrees! I know, they are crazy Montana chickens!!!

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Mine are always free to go in the coop or stay in the rain. They usually choose to look like drowned rats by staying in the rain.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Unless we're having Blizzard conditions or tornado like winds, they are free to come and go as they please!

 

[fasbendera]

Only when it is pouring outside do I leave them locked up for the day and on really cold winter days (sub zero here don't want frozen combs). If I have really young chicks I will block them in but let the older birds out because they have the good sense to come in when they are cold & wet where the little ones don't some times.

 

[The Chicken People]

MIne stay out in the rain as well! I leave the coop open from about 4 or 5 pm until they go in to roost!