Winter Care for Chickens: How to Keep Your Flock Happy and Warm

Our first snow of the season!

We finally had our first taste of winter here in middle Tennessee to start the New Year. The mild temps had us somewhat spoiled so far this winter but alas, we all knew the cold would arrive eventually!

When it comes to chickens, they really don't require as much as one might think to survive the cold chill of winter. You see, chickens are built to withstand some pretty harsh conditions and for all those worried about the cold, there's honestly more to worry about in the hotter months! 

Hot weather versus cold weather:

In the dog days of summer, when temps soar above ninety-degrees, especially for several days, chickens can easily get overheated. This is because their feathers are like insulation, they just absorb all of that heat. To combat the hotter weather, there are several things you can do to keep your flock cool and happy. First, offer lots of fresh drinking water. This is a must for any animal, at any time of year. Sometimes though, fresh water isn't enough to entice your hens to drink. When this happens, freeze some treats in ice cubes and add to their water or run area. Second, they need shade to escape the heat. Our girls free range and often escape the heat in the brush and tree line. If your flock is confined to a run, try a sunshade or tarp over half of the run. Third, make sure the coop is properly ventilated and secure. Chickens are prone to respiratory issues, but proper ventilation and keeping a dry coop can prevent those. It also helps during warmer temperatures. 

For the cold, there are also a few extra things you can do to help keep your feathered friends happy and healthy. 

The geese benefit from the heated water too!

1. Heated waterer. When temperatures dip below freezing, a heated watering system is a life saver for your flock. This one is what we use. I like that all I have to do is plug it in and the water stays ice free. If you find yourself in an unexpected freeze, don't fret! You can use an old crockpot set on low or even bricks that you warm in your oven! Just set it up outside of your coop to avoid the dangers of accidentally starting a fire.

Keeping the coop dry is essential.

2. Keep your coop dry. Moisture in your hen house can make your flock sick. Often, most respiratory issues stem from damp bedding which spawns other problems like mold. All those things are terrible for your feathered friends. This is why I don't put a waterer inside the coop. The chickens tend to knock it over and just generally make a mess.

3. DO NOT ADD A HEAT LAMP! As tempted as you might be, there is no reason to add a heat lamp to your coop. The dangers far outweigh the benefits. Remember, your chickens have their own little built in winter coat (feathers) and it provides them with oodles of heat, especially when they huddle together at night in the coop! It is also not recommended to insulate your chicken coop because during the warmer months, your chicks could actually overheat. If you live somewhere with extreme cold temperatures, I would recommend talking with a farm vet in your area that could give you additional pointers on how to safely get your flock through those extreme conditions.

My daughter Ava, aka the chicken whisperer, tossing out
 some corn at the start of the snowfall.

4. Supplement their feed. Another important aspect of winter months is taking into consideration limited foraging and natural food sources. For example, if your hens normally free range, you probably only have to offer them feed as a supplement to that. During winter however, they will require extra feed. You can supplement with treats such as mealworms, calcium, and even offer them veggie scraps from the kitchen. All this will help ensure your flock is maintaining a healthy diet throughout the colder weather.

Don't worry too much! Chickens have survived a many winters without much assistance from us chicken parents. They are resourceful and resilient but we can absolutely do these few extra things to make the bitter cold of winter a little more tolerable!

Let me know in the comments if you have any additional tips or questions below!

xoxo,

Crystal