Chickens In Winter - Keeping a small flock of chickens in your backyard means they will need some extra attention to make it through the winter safe, healthy, happy and warm. Where many large scale farmers don’t go to the extra work to pamper their chicks, small flock farmers need to remember that a handful of chickens produce much less collective body heat than a large flock of 50 or more chickens. (You can tell if your chickens are cold if they fluff their feathers and stand on one foot. They’re trying to stay warm.)
To help your Chickens In Winter, here are a few things for you to consider:
Chickens In Winter 1: Add Light
If you live in extreme climates, adding a heat lamp is a way to keep your chickens warmer. Besides taking the chill off the coop, your chickens egg production will increase (as chickens like to have about 14 hours of daylight for optimal egg laying conditions).
A neat little thing you can add to your coop (for less than $20) is a controlled outlet that automatically turns your light on when the temperature dips below 35, and turns it back off when it gets above 45.
Chickens In Winter 2: Add Insulation
Chicken coop insulation can be as easy (and cheap) as sheets of foam or cardboard. I insulated my coop using scraps leftover from other’s cut and carry purchases at a home improvement store. It cost me less than $25 to insulate my entire coop this way. If using insulation, remember to cover it up. Chickens love to peck at anything. Insulation isn’t good for them to eat. But, it does help keep them warm.
Chickens In Winter 3: Patch up Holes
If your coop is drafty or has lots of open spaces, consider covering them up for the winter. Just don’t cut off all their ventilation because they still need some fresh air.
Chickens In Winter 4: P.U.P.
Yes, this is an acronym for doggie poop patrol, but it works for chickens too. Pick Up Poop. Don’t neglect cleaning the coop out in the winter. Chickens tend to stay indoors more when it’s cold, and if you close up the coop more than it is in the summer, all that smell can start to bother your chicken’s lungs. Sanitary chicken environment is a must.
Chickens In Winter 5: Keep Water Drinkable
If freezing water is a problem where you live, consider getting a heater for the water. They actually make heaters for chicken water containers. Tuck it inside your water container, or sit the container on top (depending on the style you get) and it will keep your chicken’s water from freezing. You can do something similar with a heated dog water dish (which is actually a cheaper option). Or, you can make your own heater for in just a couple of minutes with less than $5.00 worth of supplies.Get Instructions here.
Chickens In Winter 6: Add Plastic
Chickens don’t like to be wet or hang out in the wind. Adding plastic (or a tarp or a shower curtain, etc.) to the outside of the chicken run will cut down on those things significantly.
I used a roll of 7ml clear plastic and stapled it up on 2 of the 3 walls of the chicken run (almost all our winter wind comes from the north east so that’s the area I blocked). They still have one wall uncovered so they can see out and get fresh air.
Chickens In Winter 7: Add Entertainment
Chickens need exercise. In the winter they’ll be less likely to be roaming around, so give them incentive to exercise. Throw cracked corn or other grains into the chicken run and let them scratch around for it. Put their food and water containers at opposite ends of the coop so they have to walk from one place to the other.
Giving your chickens something to do will also cut down on them picking on each other out of boredom or grouchiness from being cooped up. Get a whole cabbage and drill a hole through it, run a rope through it and hang it just out of the chicken’s reach. They will jump up at it, tearing bits off and eating it. Not only is it nice to have fresh vegetables to feed them, they’ll get their exercise as well.
Chickens In Winter 8: Add Bedding
In the winter months, add extra bedding to the coop and nest boxes. If you live in a cold region, add extra straw. If you live in a warmer region, add extra wood shavings or wood pellets (I use a combination of wood shavings and wood pellets and it seems to work great).
Paying attention to some of these details will help ensure your chickens survive the cold weather. As in most things with these easygoing birds, it doesn’t take too much work to keep them healthy and happy. They will appreciate the extra pampering, and may even reward you with some eggs. Even in the cold winter!