Winter Chicken Care: Keep Your Flock Warm And Cozy

Raising chickens in the winter can be challenging due to decreased egg production, frozen water, and the risk of frostbite. However, with proper care and management, it is possible to keep your flock healthy, happy, and warm during the colder months. Providing a well-insulated, draft-free, and ventilated coop, ensuring access to clean water and food, and selecting cold-tolerant breeds are some essential strategies for caring for chickens in winter.

Provide a dry, draft-free, and well-ventilated coop

Providing a dry, draft-free, and well-ventilated coop is essential for keeping chickens healthy and productive during winter. Here are some ways to achieve this:

Insulation and Draft-Proofing

Check your coop for drafts and seal any gaps with materials such as straw, paper, or caulk. Covering the coop with old carpets, blankets, bubble wrap, or flattened cardboard can provide extra insulation. Ensure that ventilation holes are not blocked to maintain proper airflow.

Moisture Control

Moisture control is critical during winter to prevent frostbite and health issues caused by high moisture levels. Keep the coop clean and dry by removing any wet bedding or mud that chickens may track in. Use a ground sanitizer to maintain hygiene in areas where chickens roam.

Elevated Roosting Spaces

Provide enough elevated spaces, such as wooden perches, for chickens to rest and sleep. Chickens prefer to sleep off the ground, and roosts allow them to stay warm by wrapping their toes around the edges and fluffing their feathers. Ensure that the roosting spaces are not too crowded, allowing chickens to comfortably lay together for warmth.

Predator and Pest Protection

Ensure that doors and windows fit tightly and can be securely closed to keep out predators and vermin. Regularly check run boundaries to ensure that your chickens are safe from foxes or badgers, especially during wet weather when fence posts may become loose.

Bedding

Use a deep layer of dry bedding, such as hardwood chips, sand, or straw, to provide insulation and keep your chicken's feet warm. A layer of bedding can also help lift the chickens off the wet and muddy floor.

Insulate the coop

Insulating the chicken coop is essential to keeping your chickens warm and healthy during the winter. Here are some ways to do this:

First, check your coop for any gaps or holes that might let in wind, rain, snow, or rodents. Seal these openings with materials such as straw, paper, or cardboard, ensuring that ventilation holes remain unobstructed. Old carpet, blankets, bubble wrap, or flattened cardboard can also be used to cover the coop for added insulation.

Next, consider adding a deep layer of dry bedding, such as straw, wood chips, or sand, to the floor of the coop. This layer should be around 6 to 12 inches deep and will provide insulation and a dry surface for the chickens to walk on. It is important to keep the bedding dry, as moisture can lead to frostbite and health issues.

Additionally, provide roosts made of wood for your chickens to rest and sleep on. Each chicken should have around 9-12 inches of roosting space, and the roosts should be 1-2 inches wide to allow the chickens to wrap their toes around them comfortably. Roosts help keep chickens off the cold floor, allowing them to conserve body heat.

If you have a larger coop, you can create a smaller enclosed space within it, such as by placing a cardboard box on its side, to help the chickens retain heat more efficiently.

Finally, if you raise smaller chicken breeds, you may want to insulate the coop with special care or consider using a heater designed for chicken coops, being mindful of the potential risks associated with electrical appliances.

Ensure access to clean, unfrozen water

Ensuring your chickens have access to clean, unfrozen water is essential during winter. Here are some ways to ensure your chickens get the water they need:

Water Heater

If electricity is available, you can purchase a water heater. There are various types to choose from, including all-in-one systems or simple base heaters placed under a bowl. It is important to be aware of the risks and take precautions to prevent fire or electrical shock to your chickens when using electrical appliances in the coop.

Low-Walled Rubber Bucket

If you do not have access to electricity, another option is to use a low-walled rubber bucket. While this option requires more work and can get dirtier, it may be the best choice if electricity is not an option. The ice can be knocked out of the bucket, and it can then be refilled with fresh water.

Electric Base

You can place a 5-gallon watering bucket on an electric base to prevent the water from freezing. Wrapping the bucket with cheap foam can also help.

Hot Water

If you leave the bucket outside, you can pour hot water into the frozen bowls in the morning, and it should stay unfrozen until night.

Undercover Drinkers

To encourage your chickens to drink, put drinkers undercover at night. Chickens need access to water at least every 10 hours, so it is important to ensure they are staying hydrated.

Provide enough food

Providing your chickens with enough food is critical during the winter months. Chickens may eat up to 25% more feed during cold weather, so it is important to ensure they have access to a good, balanced diet. You can allow your chickens to eat free-choice, and they will adjust their eating according to the temperature. Alternatively, you can scatter high-energy feed like grains or oilseeds in the coop in the evening. This will encourage the birds to be active and forage for their food.

If you want to give your chickens a special treat, you can mix Allen & Page Layers Crumble with some hot water. Just make sure it is all eaten within 30 minutes. You can also try giving them some scratch grains in the late afternoon, which will help them generate body heat overnight as they digest. It is important to remember that chickens will need access to water every 10 hours, so make sure this is provided alongside their food.

If you have a mixed flock, it is important to separate them by size or dominance during the winter. Heavier or more dominant breeds may peck on others and keep them away from their feed. As a result, lighter or less dominant breeds may not get enough food to maintain their body weight and health. Before winter, spend some time observing the behaviour of your birds to decide if you need to separate them.

Finally, it is important to inspect your flock before winter to identify any birds that may struggle during the colder months. Old age, low body weight, or poor health can prevent birds from adapting well to cold weather and may lead to prolonged stress and even death. While this may be a difficult decision, culling these birds before winter is likely the most humane option.

Monitor for signs of frostbite

Frostbite is a common issue for chickens in freezing temperatures. It is caused by the freezing of bodily fluids, which damages cells and causes tissue damage. The most vulnerable areas are the chicken's comb, wattles, and feet, which may turn black or grey and feel brittle. Other signs of frostbite include blisters, swelling, increased redness, discharge from wounds, and a bad odour.

To monitor for signs of frostbite, perform a physical examination of your chickens, especially those with large combs and wattles, after cold nights. Look out for any discolouration or blackening of the tips and edges of the comb and wattles. Frostbite can also cause blisters, swelling, increased redness, discharge from wounds, and a bad odour. If you suspect that your chicken has frostbite, it is important to slowly warm the affected areas and restrict movement to prevent further damage. Do not use direct heat, such as a hair dryer or heat lamp, as this can cause further damage. Instead, slowly warm frostbitten feet by soaking them in slightly warm water.

In extreme cases of frostbite, large portions of the comb or feet may freeze, and there may be severe pain, disfigurement, loss of mobility, decreased fertility, and diminished egg production. If your chicken is experiencing an extreme case of frostbite, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately.

To prevent frostbite, ensure that your chickens are protected from the elements, especially wind, rain, and snow. Keep their coop well-ventilated and dry, as high moisture can increase the risk of frostbite. Provide enough space for your chickens to fluff their feathers and huddle together for warmth without overcrowding. Finally, watch for signs of cold stress, such as huddling together, holding a foot up, or puffing their feathers, as this can lead to frostbite if they are unable to regulate their body temperature.

Frequently asked questions