Chickens are fine in the rain primarily due to their feathers. In fact, they can actually be out in the rain for quite a while without actually getting wet! Okay, so their feathers will get wet – but their skin can stay quite dry under all of those feathers.
Chickens can absolutely be out in the rain. In fact, chickens will find that a light rain is a good opportunity for a snack. It encourages worms to emerge from the soil, and it can also offer cover from predators, which can allow for a larger ranging areas that they can safely forage in.
Sporadic exposure to the rain should be fine for most chickens. If you have a day or two of rain, your chickens will most likely be ok, as long as they are drying off for a while in a warm area. There are a few issues that can occur with heavy or prolonged exposure to the rain when it comes to chickens.
It’s raining right now and is very wet and chilly. They can take rain quite well. The black star and plymouth rock don’t look so bad.. Mine like the rain. It seems like they stay pretty dry under the feathers, despite looking like drown rats. A couple extra ideas to examine: biddyboo, g_a_brand, sbates, chickensioux, or ibicella.
Can chickens stay out in the rain?
Most chickens are sensible and will seek shelter when there is heavy rain. Many chicken breeds are relatively hardy, and a little rain won’t hurt them; however, all of them will need somewhere to seek shelter and enough space to avoid chickens that are higher in the pecking order who might bully them if they get too close.
While I was writing we ran into the inquiry “Can chickens go outside in the rain?”.
Chicken feathers are water resistant and very insulating. If your chickens want to go out in the rain, let them. Some like it, some don’t. I would say put shavings in the coop and sand in the run.
Can chickens get sick from the rain?
Rain can be beneficial to chickens, though most chickens know to seek shelter before the weather gets too bad. Chickens who are younger or less experienced, such as rescues, may not know that too much rain is a bad thing. Some rain can help bring bugs like worms to the surface, but too much rain may make your chicken sick.
What do you do with chickens when it rains?
When it’s raining, let your chickens do their thing. If you let your chickens free range on sunny days, let them do that on rainy days. Our chickens have a whole “pasture” in our backyard that they have on-demand access to during daytime hours. They can go in their run, in their coop, or to the pasture.
This begs the query “Why do chickens like rainy days?”
Another reason chickens enjoy an overcast, rainy day is because it provides some shelter from birds of prey and other predators. It gives them more opportunities to search for food casually.
Can chickens get wet?
The danger to chickens is not about how wet the chicken get, but for how long they stay wet. Chickens’ feathers are water-resistant, which means that they won’t get wet quickly. But, with enough rain, even their feathers will become soaked. That’s when it becomes dangerous for chickens.