Cannot keep your chickens warm in cold weather?
Here are some tips for chicken keeping in winter that might come in handy. You can also print out our checklists here to help you get organized when preparing your coop for winter weather.
In Autumn, our chickens lay fewer eggs. Some chicken keepers buy an artificial light to supplement the natural light, so the egg production extends. But you cannot fool a chicken. When chickens are ready to molt, they sometimes stop the egg production even if the light is prominent and even throughout the day. When your chickens are molting, you can also provide proper nutrition, so we recommend some dried mealworms, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds that are a great source of protein and support your chickens during molting. In addition, molting is a natural process that lets the chicken have new warmer feathers for the winter. So additional warming of the coop or insulation is not needed in the winter, but if your insulation is already poor, it is best to fix that problem before the winter cold seeps in.
Easy and efficient chicken keeping in cold weather
Chickens gradually adapt to seasonal changes through their complex thermoregulation, which keeps them comfortable even in cold weather. Their average core temperature is 105 °F, higher than humans (97–103 °F), so the cold we feel seems harsher to us than to them. Chickens also have physical features and behaviors that help generate and retain body heat efficiently. In cold climates, chickens naturally eat more to fuel heat production, but during winter, they may eat less because they don’t feel the cold and are already satisfied. It is important to provide a balanced, well-portioned diet rather than overfeeding fatty foods, which can lead to health issues later in life. By allowing chickens to self-regulate their intake while maintaining proper nutrition, you support their natural ability to stay warm and healthy throughout the winter months.
Things chickens do to retain body heat in winter:
- Their internal mechanism retains blood flow to their combs, wattles, and feet, the parts of the body that dissipate excess heat in the summer months.
- They adjust their posture and position of standing to absorb more warmth from the sun and minimize heat loss.
- In cold and windy winters, they hunch over, tuck in their heads under wings and feathers, squat to cover their feet and huddle with other flock mates.
- Making goosebumps allows chickens to adjust the angle of their feathers for better enclosure of trapped air that then warms their bodies against their skin.
List to tick off when preparing your coop for winter weather:
- Look for drafts in the chicken coop to prevent cold seeping in! You can inspect your coop from the inside for any cracks that might appear. You can repair them with another piece of wood or other material so that the light and air cannot come through.
- Maintain excellent and efficient ventilation in your chicken coop! A seeping wind that is not necessary for your chicken coop can further minimize the heat from your coop. Make sure that your coop does not have any air leaks. If it does, seal them. If your coop is made of natural materials, you need to check your coop every season because wood and other raw materials breathe and stretch in ways that are not beneficial to chickens. If you prepared your chicken coop in summer for better ventilation, you should check your air holes and maybe seal them for winter. But be careful not to fill everything because some ventilation is needed for winter, too, so that moisture can escape and fresh air can still flow through the chicken coop.
- Add insulation if needed and where needed! Insulation is a crucial component for heat retention, so check your local hardware store for better quality insulation if the one you have doesn’t work, or you do not have one.
- Keep Your Coop Clean and Insulated. Chickens generate body heat, which can be trapped using dense materials. The deep litter method or floor insulation with straw helps maintain warmth and reduces humidity. Proper care of bedding is essential; otherwise, it can increase moisture, odors, and disease risk. Use thermometers inside and outside the coop to monitor temperature and humidity and adjust maintenance as needed.
- Maintain Drinking Water in Winter. Water is essential for your chickens, especially in winter. Frozen water can quickly become a problem, but there are several ways to prevent it. Heated waterers are the easiest solution, or you can create a DIY version using insulation or heated rods under the bowl. While chickens prefer cooler water, they cannot drink through ice. The recommended water temperature is 50°F to 72°F. You can also keep the water inside the coop or in a slightly warmer run, ensuring it remains accessible. If needed, replace frozen water every few hours to keep fresh water available. By taking these steps, your flock will stay hydrated and healthy even in the coldest months.
Heat the coop or not heat the coop?
Some circumstances need a heated coop from the inside. Still, most climates do not do so. You are better off not heating your coop with artificial heaters because you can prevent fires, premature chicken molting, growth of bacteria, and other nuisances.
Warn of winter Chicken Predators!
Predators are more prevalent in the winter months. Food in the winter is scarcer for all of us, and so is for predators. As predators become desperate for food, make sure your locks are predator-proofed and that you lock your flock into the coop each night. Run-Chicken automatic coop door will beautifully assist with these troubles. Automatic chicken coop doors are great helpers in locking up the flock at night and opening them in the morning.
For more information on how to secure your coop, read 5 “must-haves” to make your chicken coop predator-proofed.
Winter Chicken Care Checklist
Caring for your flock during cold weather requires planning and extra attention. Use this checklist to make sure your chickens stay safe, warm, and healthy throughout winter.
1. Provide Extra Bedding
Make sure the coop has enough clean bedding, especially in areas where chickens sleep and rest. Poor or insufficient bedding can make chickens cold and uncomfortable. Adding extra bedding in key areas helps them stay warm and dry.
2. Ensure Proper Roosting
Chickens tend to roost together and fluff their feathers to conserve heat. Build roosts well above the ground, as warm air rises and cold air settles at the bottom. Every night, check that all chickens roost together to prevent any chicken from being left alone and cold.
3. Provide Protected Outdoor Space
Give chickens access to a sunny side of the coop for exercise and sunlight, which naturally warms them. Allow them to spend time outside, which also aerates the coop and removes damp, heavy air. You can create a protected chicken run with a transparent or semi-clear cover to trap sunlight and shelter from the elements. Make sure to add bedding on the ground so chickens’ feet are protected from snow or frozen surfaces.
4. Offer Well-Balanced, Heated Nutrition
Provide heated food to generate warmth from digestion. Include high-carbohydrate feed to help non-laying chickens maintain body heat. Add supplements to drinking water if chickens lack access to green grass or grit.
5. Provide In-Coop Entertainment
Keep chickens active to maintain healthy body heat. Hang treats from strings for pecking or hide dried insects in the coop. Scatter hay or straw on the floor during snow or frozen conditions to encourage outdoor activity without frostbite.
6. Give Treats for Extra Warmth
Feed cracked corn or scratch before bedtime to boost metabolism and generate heat overnight. Treats help chickens stay warm and maintain energy for egg production.
7. Use Sunlight to Trap Heat
Install see-through windows to let sunlight warm the coop naturally. Floors with dark dirt or slabs can trap heat, especially if using the Deep Litter Method.
8. Prevent Frostbite
Keep the coop dry and apply protective ointments (petroleum jelly, Vaseline, shea butter, or coconut oil) to combs and wattles. If frostbite occurs, treat with the same ointments; affected tissue may turn black and flake off, but chickens will recover under better conditions.
9. Protect Your Eggs
Harvest eggs frequently to prevent freezing and cracking. Frozen eggs can harbor bacteria, so perform a freshness check using the sniff test if needed.
Choose Cold-Hardy Breeds
If you’re expanding your flock or selecting new chickens, choose breeds suited for winter climates. Recommended breeds include: Wyandottes, Speckled Sussex, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire, Dominique, Delaware, Cochin, Buff Orpington, Brahma, Australorp, Ameraucana. Cold-hardy breeds typically have small combs and wattles and rugged bodies, making them less prone to frostbite. Avoid chickens with large combs or thin bodies, as they struggle in cold climates despite additional care.
We hope our tips will be put to much use during winter for you and your flock. A little bit of planning and good management of cold can lead to a happier and healthier flock during winter and less worry for chicken keepers.