Hey everyone! 👋
Winter can be tough on chickens, but with the right care, your flock can stay warm, healthy, and laying eggs all season. Here are the best tips to help your hens thrive in cold weather!
🐔 Winter Chicken Care Checklist
✅ 1. Keep the Coop Well-Ventilated (But Not Drafty) 🌬️
- Moisture = frostbite! Good ventilation prevents condensation buildup.
- Install vents near the roof to let out damp air while blocking strong drafts.
- Avoid sealing the coop too tightly—chickens generate heat & moisture as they breathe.
✅ 2. Provide Warm, Dry Bedding 🛏️
- Use deep litter bedding (pine shavings, straw) for extra insulation.
- Keep it dry—wet bedding can freeze and cause health issues.
- Add a thick layer of straw in the run to keep feet warm.
✅ 3. Prevent Frostbite 🩹
- Apply Vaseline to combs & wattles on extra cold nights.
- Choose cold-hardy breeds (like Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, and Barred Rocks).
- Keep roosts at least 2 feet off the ground so hens can tuck their feet under their feathers.
✅ 4. Keep Water from Freezing ❄️💧
- Use heated waterers or bring fresh water out several times a day.
- Place water inside a black rubber tub—it absorbs heat from the sun.
- Raise waterers off the ground to prevent spills & freezing.
✅ 5. Feed High-Energy Winter Foods 🍽️
- Extra calories help hens stay warm! Try:
🔹 Scratch grains before bed (generates body heat overnight).
🔹 Black oil sunflower seeds (extra fat & protein).
🔹 Warm oatmeal or scrambled eggs (a treat on extra cold days).
✅ 6. Keep Them Active 🏃♂️
- Bored chickens = feather picking & aggression.
- Hang cabbage, treat balls, or a flock block to keep them busy.
- Shovel pathways in the snow if they don’t want to walk outside.
✅ 7. Do They Need Heat Lamps? (No, Unless…) 🔥
- Chickens don’t need heat lamps—they handle cold better than heat.
- Heat lamps are a fire hazard and can cause sudden temperature drops if they fail.
- Only use safe radiant heaters if temps drop dangerously low.
💬 How Do You Keep Your Hens Warm in Winter?
🐔 Do you use the deep litter method? Heated waterers?
🥚 Have you had luck keeping hens laying through winter?
📸 Drop your winter flock photos & tips below! ❄️👇🐓🔥
