Will They Be Ok or Should I Shut Them In Coop?

[Bantam Username]

My 11 week dutch chicks have been outside a while now, but only in a proper coop and run for a week. Today is driving rain and pretty windy.
Every night I gather them up and shut them in the coop and every morning when I open the door, they burst out into the run and start furiously scratching around in the grass (or whats left of it).
They never go in the coop except when its dusk and I put them in, today they are huddled under the sheltered part of the run under the coop being blown around by the wind but still won't take shelter in the coop. Is this normal?

This is my little coop.

 

[mondotomhead]

I don't know if its "normal" but during a day of pouring rain my chickens huddled under a small pine tree and NEVER went into their coop. They only went into the coop when it got dark.


*I love your cat!*

 

[jh7192]

First of all, that's a very nice coop and run. I would not worry about the chickens staying out in the rain. It appears from the photos that the birds have feathers. Birds have an oil gland at the base of the tail. Healthy birds take good care of their feathers by preening regularly. When preening they get oil from the gland and spread it over the feathers. They also lay the feathers down neatly and smoothly so the interlocking barbs are properly aligned. Between these two mechanisms, the bird's skin will stay dry underneath it's protective feathers.

 

[Bantam Username]

Quote:
Thanks, its just my old pair that I had before used to go in and out their coop all the time.
The cat was there (Blue) because if she senses something else getting my attention she always has to insert herself between me and what I'm doing! Lol.

 

[Bantam Username]

Quote:
Thanks, I was just worried they might be getting a bit cold and wet through sheer idiocy.

My brother in law built this coop for me years ago, he didn't do a bad job considering he knew nothing about chickens, I really need to get a bigger one, but just can't afford one and don't have the tools or the know-how to make one myself.