[Liam_86]

Iv just let my hens out this morning and withing 5 mins they were wet through. The run is pretty muddy as well. Do they mind this? How hardy are they?

I keep thinking if they dont like it they will always go back inside the hutch. Theres not much shelter in the run thats all

[HelenVF]

Mine come out when it's raining, have a mooch round, get wet and then go under some shelter to dry and then repeat...throughout the day.  They don't go into the house though, but find other shelter in the garden.  Might be worth putting something up for them to shelter under in the run, if you have enough room.

Helen

[HesterF]

Mine don't seem to like going back in their own house but love the goose shed. So if it's raining (and they're certainly not a big fan of it), they go in there. I think it's because it's got a big door so they don't feel quite so trapped (or they just like being nosy).

H

[Fleecewife]

How small is your henhouse and the run?  If the run is small then you must move it around before it gets bad.  The hens shouldn't become wet to the point of being bedraggled.  Their outer feathers usually allow the rain to run off.
Mine only go back into their house (which is a converted garden shed - three of them) to lay or sometimes to stock up on pellets, but they have several acres to scratch across.  They don't stand about in the rain but shelter somewhere - in an open fronted shed, or under a Landrover usually.
Do your hens have a dust bath?  If the house and run are very small so there is no room then that will make it more difficult for them to look after the state of their feathers, which might reduce how waterproof they are.   If they are constantly wet then they will be more liable to respiratory problems and your egg production will be down, not to mention that the eggs will be muddy.
 
So:  move the run around to give them fresh ground and allow the previous bit to recover; provide shelter outside of their sleeping house; provide them with a dust bath (dry soil or wood ash)

[Liam_86]

fantastic advice

Much apprieciated.

Im going to make some form of shelter for them in the run, even the dust bath has become wet!

Stage 2 of the run is not complete yet but it will be done next week. Iv only had them since the bank holiday so the ground is not that bad at the moment. its just the wet weather.

Thanks again

[Daisys Mum]

My girls have a shelter made from corrugated tin on 4 posts and they love to gather under it when it is raining.