Chickens are one of the most low-maintenance animals you can have on your homestead. However, winter weather can take a toll on your flock. Between frozen water, lack of food, drafty coops, and freezing temperatures, chickens need a little extra care when the weather cools down.
While not an extensive list, below are some of the main things you need to know about chicken care in the winter.
How do I keep my chickens fed?
You may need to adjust chicken feed rations during the winter. They eat more in the winter than they do in the summer – staying warm is hard work! They burn more calories trying to generate heat, so making sure they have access to chicken feed during the day is incredibly important.
In the winter, make sure your birds have access to feed with higher calcium content and, if you live in a particularly cold area, chicken pellets may be the best option for your flock. Pellets contain more fat and protein which, in turn, provides them with more calories to help generate energy. Provide a feeder for them to eat from that is raised off the ground. This helps avoid waste due to pellets or kernels freezing in the mud. Make sure their chicken waterer is raised, too!
How do I make sure my chickens stay hydrated?
In warmer weather, chickens get a lot of water from the vegetation they eat. As vegetation is limited during the winter months, it is crucial to keep them hydrated throughout cold spells. Chickens are less likely to drink when it is cold out – they aren’t attracted to water that is below 45 degrees. Water freezes quickly in chilly conditions, so it is important to have a waterer that can withstand those freezing temperatures.
Chickens can also get dehydrated quickly in cold weather because they lose a lot of water through their respiratory system. Make sure their water is easy to access. If their water freezes, a chicken can drown trying to get a drink.
If your water regularly freezes, consider using an electric heated waterer or putting their waterers in a heated coop.
How do I keep my chicken coop warm?
Winter chicken care starts with the chicken coop. During the summer months, chicken droppings break down into nutrients for your garden, but in the winter this process is put on hold. Coop litter should be added to your compost pile or bin throughout the year so that it can decompose naturally. If you are adding hay to a chicken run or chicken yard, make sure you shift the ground to cover your chicken droppings. This will help prevent ammonia burns during the winter when chicken poop is exposed to the elements.
You should also focus on bedding in your chicken coop. If not properly insulated, chickens can get frostbite on their combs and wattles (the red flaps on the chicken’s face). However, the coop also needs to be well ventilated to allow for proper airflow within the chicken coop.
Coops work best when built on elevated platforms to keep them up off the ground and away from snow/puddles. They should be draft-free and the coop’s floor should be made of material that doesn’t absorb water, such as thick cement slabs, cedar planks, or paving stones. It is always important that your coop that provides shelter from the elements. Chickens can’t survive outside all day, even in chicken-friendly weather. Make sure coop doors are large enough for chickens to enter and exit, but small enough to keep predators out.
What can be used for bedding?
Chickens should be provided with bedding that is dry, warm, and safe to lay on. Straw is the best bedding because it doesn’t absorb water like cloth and is easy to clean up. You can insulate chicken coops with straw or leaves, but the material needs to be dry. Change out coop bedding at least once a week to keep your coop clean and free of chicken waste. If chicken coop bedding becomes too wet, it is easier for your chickens to get frostbite.
You should also make sure your chicken coop has a roof to protect them from sun, rain, or any inclement weather.
Chickens generally don’t have a lot of insulation – they create their own by fluffing up. Make sure your chicken coop provides enough room for them to fluff up and keep warm. This will also keep them from getting upper respiratory infections.
Should I use supplemental heat?
In chicken coops that are not well insulated, it may be necessary to use supplemental heating. If the coop is not fitted with a heat and is not securely enclosed, chickens become at risk for frostbitten combs and feet. However, make sure you do your research and use only safe heat sources. Heat lamps are notorious for starting fires and burning coops to the ground. Any type of heating should be carefully monitored and never left on overnight or when chickens are outside the chicken coop.
If your coop is draft-free, secure, and houses more than five chickens, the use of supplemental heat is not necessary. Chickens can keep themselves warm by huddling together or moving in and out of the chicken coop throughout the day.
Do I need to worry about frostbite?
Chickens don’t have a lot of natural insulation, so frostbite can be a significant issue. The best ways to prevent frostbite are by keeping your chicken coop well insulated, safe, dry, and draft-free. Be mindful that they need adequate bedding to keep them warm during chilly nights. If you live in a region with sub-zero temperatures and prolonged freezing, consider providing fresh straw to insulate their coop and prevent their feet and combs from getting frostbite. Combs are especially vulnerable as they have a lot of blood vessels and not much fat.
When a chicken gets frostbite, you can tell as their feet will become swollen, their combs may look pale and/or flat, their skin may become discolored, and they may stop laying eggs. If they get frostbite, the chicken’s combs and feet will turn black and may fall off.
If you notice your chicken is acting lethargic or sleeping in an odd position on one side of the chicken coop, it might have gotten frostbite. Look for signs of discoloration or injury. You may need to take it to the vet if you notice signs of severe discoloration or lethargy.
The best way to treat frostbite is to apply Vetrycin spray to the inflammation on your chicken’s feet or comb. To alleviate discomfort, some veterinarians will prescribe Meloxicam. Vaseline can also be used as a preventive, but should not be used after frostbite has already occurred.
As always, be mindful of any symptoms and, if in doubt, take them inside if they need to warm up.
Are my chickens okay if they stop laying eggs?
You may notice a decrease in egg production if your chickens lay eggs during the winter. Chicken bodies are genetically programmed to believe that spring is approaching when the days get longer. Therefore, they boost their egg output in anticipation of more daylight hours in the spring. Chickens lay fewer eggs on shorter days, but if your chicken coop gets enough sunlight throughout the day, you might notice an increase in egg production even though it’s winter.
Many people will put a light in their coop to maintain egg production throughout the colder months. This does, however, cause chickens to stop laying sooner than if you followed their natural decrease in production. Certain breeds, such as Brahmas, continue to lay during the winter.
Taking care of chickens in the winter
Taking care of chickens in the winter doesn’t have to be difficult. Be mindful of frostbite, change and add bedding when needed, and make sure they stay warm by keeping their chicken coop draft-free. Keeping fresh water and plenty of food accessible will ensure that your chickens have what they need to survive. If you do your research, keep them safe, and monitor their symptoms, your chickens can easily transition from summer to winter mode.
Do you have any other chicken care tips?
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