When you are doing free range chickens and organic chickens the hens are allowed outside – they can move freely from the chicken house into the field around the house. While this is great in some aspects – it is a real pain in others – when it rains the chickens often do not move back into the poultry house. They stand around in little groups in the rain.
Rain does not harm the chickens initially – but when the sun comes out the birds move into the shade. Chickens do not like sun on their comb. If it is rainy season the chickens do not ever dry out properly – and this can be a problem. When you do put the wet chickens in the poultry house they begin to steam – and this is where respiratory problems start. The best thing to do is to herd your chickens back under cover when it begins to rain – especially when you are having rain every day. With day old chicks you must make sure that they do not get wet – the chick down will only keep a limited amount of water out – and with a slight wind the baby chicks will die. If you day old chicks have arrived in cardboard chick boxes - get them inside as soon as possible if it is raining. Make sure they are under the gas heater if they have got wet.
