HennyPenny59 Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Its a horrible day here today, its cold, its pouring with rain and there are strong winds, and my girls have been out in it ALL day .... They have their coop and their shelter, but they havn't used them at all !!! Can being soaked through and exposed to strong cold winds all day possibly make them unwell in any way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Same here, really miserable day. Silly girls, you would think they woukd take shelter, mine have been in all day but in the past if they have got wet I have patted them dry with paper towels, I know some people have used a hair dryer before. Mine are silkies so I don't know about bigger girls so hopefully someone will be along soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julia W Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I have six silly girls who stand out in the rain all day, I never understand why they do that but they don't seem to be bothered about it. There are plenty of places for them to get shelter but they don't seem to want to. They say sheep are stupid.........not sure there's much between chickens and sheep in the brain department. Perhaps that's why we love them so much. I have no idea if they will come to any harm but I'm sure mother nature would have sorted that out if they were in any danger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Hi, mine have been soaked many a time, they are a bit stupid too , they have shelter but it doesn't work! They shrink to half the size!! I have to say that they haven't been poorly a s a result. Today I picked them up and put them in a bit early so they could dry a bit before dark. My newbies however who I got yesterday sensibly sheltered under a tree! A far cleverer group! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Well, it got to 7.00pm, and me and DH couldn't stand it anymore ... It was very cold, there was sheet rain and it was blowing a gale (we are very exposed here), so I decided to pick them all up and put them in their coop for the night ... They complained for a couple of minutes, and then all went quiet, and I know they had settled. I don't know if i've done the right thing here by disrupting their normal routine?? I think the weather is supposed to be the same for the rest of the week, so maybe ive got to toughen up and get used to it .. it will be difficult though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Mine usually huddle under a buddleia plant in my garden in bad weather but my appenzeller insists on running around in terrential rain and getting so wet that her hair flops over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Mine came out for a soaking every now and again then went under shelter to dry out and repeated this throughout the day! Thankfully my dad built them a sort of sentry box style digging area that is sheltered so they could still rummage around in there and be out of the rain I think they are generally ok getting a bit wet, though my older ladies cope less well with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julia W Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I like the idea of the sentry box. I shall follow that idea and see if they shelter there if I make it very big. They could dust themselves in wet weather - or am I being too ambitious hoping my girls will get some sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly1979 Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Glad im not the only one with daft girls ! I do worry but like everyone else mine have plenty of shelter. I have been worried about their wettness all day esp as I myself have a chill so seeing them has made me feel even colder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchie Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Mine were out in the pouring rain for about 3 hours today. One decided to go roll around where they usually have their dust bath, but it was more of a mud bath. Was totally covered in mud and soil. She looked a real mess at the time, but all preened up an hour later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Well guys, day 2 of the horrid weather! Just been out and propped up a wheelbarrow for them to shelter under and a curver box turned up. You know the daft thing is they have a house they can go in with plenty of space to walk around in and will they use it?? Lets hope they see sense today and stay dry! (doubt it though!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 Im considering my Polytunnel, but there are Pros and Cons and needs a lot thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 You may fine they grow or produce bigger eggs! Its so horrid for them. I have just had newbies only for a day and all they have been subjected to is wind and rain. Poor things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I've stopped worrying about the wind and the rain. When I first got my hens I used to go round shooing them into the run when it was wet but now take the view they know where the shelter is and it's up to them whether or not to use it. Yesterday they looked very wet with spikey hair dos but came out all nice and fluffy and dry this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Momma Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 Absolutely disgusting weather here on the Isle of Man too and with 30 mph winds. We are in a very exposed area too. My girls put their heads out this morning when I opened up the coop and turned around and went straight back in. When the wind dropped (to a mere 25 mph) I ventured out and saw them in the run pecking around. I'm so soft about them that I scattered some pellets just outside the door of the coop so they could just reach down ... I also replaced the water with fresh "cidered" water which they seem to love. From feral chickens running round a village they seem to have adapted to the luxury life very well! I was worried about the rain too but the see-through full length Eglu rain cover seems to keep most of the rain out of the run. My main concern is that it is now very muddy where the girls have stomped up and down. Don't want to let them into the extended run when I am not around to watch them. Also - good news for a newbie like me - the rain has not put Margo off laying - she started Sunday and we had Egg Number Three today. Good luck in this rotten weather all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I must have clever chooks as mine sit in the cube all day when the weather is nasty like the last two days, they do nip out to eat and get a drink but go straight back in. I've watched them from the kitchen window and as soon as the rain stops they jump down the ladder and scratch about till the next shower then back in they go . I think they have got it from my blackrock/silkie cross as she hates the rain (She has always sought shelter and i think they others just go with her now.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 My girls always seem to be in a little huddle .. They won't do anything independent of eachother, so if its raining and one silly girl decides to not take shelter, then the rest will follow her. I think I have sheep in disguise They are having a wonderful time out there this morning, as the rain has made the ground really soft. I don't want to think what its going to look like by the end of the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
