Does your coop allow air to flow inside through slats, holes, or cracks? Okay, so I’ve got one Buff Orpington who dislikes the rain. You may be surprised at the temperatures your backyard chickens can withstand. So make sure that your chickens have a waterproof, dry shelter – so that they can stay warm and dry off when it’s raining. Yes, they can, and most of them like it a lot, especially the cold hardy breeds.Chickens are created to regulate their body’s temperature with their undercoat of feathers and they increase food intake during the cold weather. The best thing you can do to provide warmth for your chickens is to insulate your coop or hen house well. Moist cold air causes respiratory problems and can cause frost-bitten combs and wattles in very cold temperatures. While they may not love the cold, chickens will easily survive even when outdoor temperatures are in the teens – especially when they are provided a properly winterized coop to stay safe and dry in! These include winterizing the chicken coop with additional insulation, creating a protected outdoor space for them to enjoy, keeping an eye out for frostbite, and providing food and water in a slightly different manner. Here is what you need to know about chickens and rain. They go wild pecking at it while it bobs around. Perhaps your schedule doesn’t allow for daily warm meals, and that is okay! What kind of plastic do you use to cover your chicken run? Think about worms, for example. I do recall one particular chapter that might relate. When there’s too much rain, however, or it’s too cold, then chickens are generally smart enough (or that instinct kicks in) to seek shelter. Chickens oftentimes take a break from egg-laying during the winter, which we’ll discuss more below. Another way that chickens could get sick from rain is if they can’t dry off sufficiently. Furthermore, hens only carry a set amount of eggs in their bodies for their lifetime. Are chickens okay out in the rain?eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'backyardhomesteadhq_com-box-3','ezslot_1',107,'0','0'])); Chickens are fine being in the rain as long as they have a waterproof shelter they can retreat to on-demand. The one morning I found them with their feet frozen to the perch they were on. If you have an electricity source, spend a few dollars and get yourself a heated drinker. And most chickens will seek shelter before that happens. Based on the question posed, I’m just going to guess that you want your chickens to come in out of the rain during the day. So make sure they’ve got access to a shelter – and they should be just fine to enjoy being outside in the wet weather. While you can still consume eggs that have been frozen and defrosted, they usually expand and crack open while freezing – which is not ideal. Allowing for good ventilation while still providing insulation is key and will keep the chickens comfortable while in the coop during extremely cold weather. Most chickens go through their annual molt in the fall, and have hopefully regained most of their feathers before winter hits. We’ll talk about rain-related sickness later on in this article. Why do my chickens like to sleep outside the coop? Your email address will not be published. All Rights Reserved. If it seems your chickens won’t be coming outside as much as they usually do, be sure to keep accessible food and water inside the coop. They can go in their run, in their coop, or to the pasture. Keep in touch with our weekly newsletter and receive a FREE digital, printable garden planning toolkit! That’s easy pickings for the chickens. Chickens love to go outside during the day, romping in the sun when it’s up. an automatic chicken door (like this one on Amazon). They’ll go inside when they need to. There are many measures you can take to keep your flock of chickens warm, healthy and happy in cold winter weather. Even so, that’s why we use an automatic chicken door (like this one on Amazon) with a daylight sensor and a timer – that way if the sensor thinks it’s sunset (because of all of the clouds), the timer can override it. Sign up for our weekly newsletter of new articles, and receive a FREE 20-page digital, printable garden planning toolkit. They stood huddled together shaking. However, chickens with “frizzle” feathers are not as cold-hardy, because their fancy flippant feathers don’t provide the same insulation as standard feathers. Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, such as Amazon links. What, Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, such as Amazon links. Dismiss. I'm Kimberly Starr. It is very common for chickens to stop laying eggs in the winter, or to vastly decrease in frequency. Some experts say chickens don’t really start suffering until the temperature inside their coop falls to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Until then, use the rule that newly hatched chicks need ambient temperatures of 95F; each week after, reduce that by five degrees. To learn more details about popular chicken breeds, including heat and cold hardiness, egg-laying habits, demeanor, and more – see our article “The Top 18 Backyard Chicken Breeds”. But seems to be a waist of brain power after reading all the post and tips on the site. Overall they are known for being a calm and friendly chicken that is curious. Cats keen to venture outdoors might still want to brave the temperatures – even during a harsh winter. Therefore, they generate a lot of body heat to keep themselves and their flock mates warm – naturally! I once had this happen a few years ago when I had a few young roosters that started sleeping out and about despite my best efforts. My hope is to inspire the love for a similar lifestyle or hobbies in others ~ by sharing real-life tips and tools to make “modern homesteading” activities easy, understandable, and enjoyable ~ so you can learn and dive in with me! However, some chicken keepers routinely provide supplemental heat for their chickens in the winter – be it out of “necessity” and extreme cold, or simply because they feel sorry for the poor dears. Found a lotta ideas to put to work. In addition to maintaining a dry coop environment, another easy way to prevent frostbite in chickens is to lube up their combs and wattles with vaseline, coconut oil, petroleum jelly. Be sure to wear a warm hat, even while trying to sleep. Do they have what they need to stay healthy? If you have a chicken that tends to sleep alone or in another location (such as in the nest box), move her to the roost with the others at bedtime on dangerously cold nights. Chickens also like rainy days for two other reasons. 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