Peppa Pig loves muddy puddles. Not chickens. After wet weather we always get an increase in chicken coops with sick chickens - usually coccidiosis, respiratory disease and botulism. Don't let it be you. Find out how to keep your chooks healthy with answers to our five most frequently asked customer questions about keeping chooks in the rain.
(:1f414:) Should chickens go outside in the rain?
Chicken feathers are somewhat waterproof, so it's okay to let them loose. Leaving your birds outside prevents overcrowding, boredom and the diseases that come with a wet coop. Not all birds appreciate going outside, but almost all will seek shelter and dry off before they become dangerously soaked.
But chickens get chills easily, so if it's wet as well as cold or windy, make sure your birds have a nice, dry place to avoid chills.
The feathers of Silkies and other chicken breeds with similar feathers are not waterproof. These breeds are therefore not allowed outside in the rain, because they do not stay dry like other chickens. Young birds and sick birds should also be kept out of the rain.
(:1f414:) Why do chickens get sick after rain?
Chickens get sick after rain because it causes wet, muddy conditions. Add high temperatures and you get these problems:
- Mold and fungi breed, cause diseases through contaminated feed and irritate the sensitive respiratory tract of your chickens
- Disease-causing bacteria, intestinal worms and coccidiosis-causing coccidia also breed
- Lice, mites and other external parasites spread and multiply faster because the chickens don't vacuum and the birds spend more time indoors, close to each other
- Your chooks are exposed to a higher than normal parasite load because they are indoors and everything is muddy and contaminated with feces
- The house and garden are not cleaned by sunlight, which in normal weather destroys many types of bacteria and parasite eggs
If your chicken coop is not designed properly, it will produce muddy puddles after every rain. Read our article abouthow to get rid of muddy puddlesin the chicken coop.
☔ Why does the chicken coop smell in the rain?
Wet chicken coop – a special, smooth combination of wet feces, wet waste and all the fungi and bacteria that benefit from the damp conditions. Not only is it dirty, but a damp or wet stable is also not healthy for chickens:
- Wet, dirty cat litter is one of the leading causes of bunions.
- Chickens have a sensitive respiratory system and the fumes released when fermenting waste cause irritation and respiratory disease.
- Wet waste tends to grow mold and fungus that, if ingested or inhaled, can cause illness or death.
- The smell of the cat litter is an indication that it is full of bacteria, parasites and feces.
(:1f414:) Are puddles and mud on the run bad for chickens?
A wet, muddy chicken coop can last for days after the rain stops. However, a muddy run is bad for chickens for three main reasons:
1. Chickens can't dust bathe, which means more external parasites.
2. A damp, wet chicken coop means ideal conditions for parasites and their eggs.
3. Chickens love to drink from muddy puddles no matter how much fresh water you provide, and muddy puddles are likely to contain coccidia, bacteria, worm eggs and even botulism. If the chicks are in danger, a small puddle of water may be enough to push them over the edge.
There's not much you can do about a wet run other than encouraging sunlight and filling large puddles with dirt, gravel or mulch. Hopefully you have placed the garden somewhere high and dry.
(:1f414:) How can I keep my chickens healthy in wet weather?
You can't change the weather, but here it issix things you can do to prevent illness and disease in the chicken coop.
1. Release your birds if possible and especially if you don't have enough chicken space for your flock
2. Make sure the house is well ventilated, but protected from cold wind and rain
3. Try to keep the cage clean and dry. Spot regularly and supplement with fresh, dry litter.
4. Remove contaminated bedding or bedding with mold or mildew growth
5. Provide a dry dust bath if space permits
6. Clean the cup thoroughly once it is dry, or sooner if it continues to rain
The final trickin wet weather you should watch for the first signs of illness, such as lethargy and diarrhea. Don't attribute the behavior solely to the rain. Act quickly to isolate sick birds, clean the yard, diagnose the problem and treat the disease.
Also...
Some bedding materials can withstand wet weather better than others. Although straw, hay, mulch and grass clippings can make good bedding in a cozy home, they only need to be slightly damp for mold to grow. And inhaling the mold spores is just as bad for humans as it is for chickens!
Also read:How to stop disease in the chicken coop
