It is not very intuitive how to prepare your chickens for winter. In fact, many people can take steps that actually make things more difficult for their flock, instead of helping them become cold weather chicks! Selecthardy varieties(if you live in an area with cold winters) is definitely an important first step! But assuming you've already made good breed choices, you'll also want to know what NOT to do for your chickens in cold weather.
Chickens in Cold Weather: 8 Things NOT to Do in Winter
1. Don't keep your chickens cooped up in their coop when it's cold.
Chicks in good cold weather can decide for themselves when they want to stay inside or come out. You may think that your chickens don't want to go outside in the snow, and sometimes that is true. Some of your chickens will hate it and will stay inside most of the day, but others won't mind at all.
The only time I keep the door closed during the day is when the snow is too deep for my cold chickens to walk in, or when it is so bitter and windy that I know no one will come out. (And even then I sometimes open the doorIn case of).
2. Don't insulate your home tightly.
I know it seems strange, but it's true: well-insulated homes can do more harm than good. If your chicken coop is well insulated, it not only retains heat, but also moisture... and moisture retention in the chicken coop is very bad.
Chickens get a lot of moisture from their breath. A lot of moisture also evaporates from their feces. And in winter they will spend more time indoors, just because of the longer winter nights! More feces accumulates --- and more fluid. And the problem is that a lot of moisture in the air can condense, freeze and contribute to frostbite. All that moisture also increases the risk that unhealthy conditions in the yard will lead to respiratory disorders and fungal diseases. Additionally, poor ventilation can also cause ammonia gas to build up in your chicken coop, which is harmful to your chickens' lungs.
In cold areas you can add some insulation, but remember that chickens need a coop in cold weatherwell ventilated, to prevent moisture accumulation, but no draughts.
3. Don't assume you need to heat your chicken coop
This is another piece of advice that seems completely counterintuitive... but it's good advice for a number of reasons, unless you live in a region where it regularly drops below twenty degrees outside.
Chickens adapt to lower temperatures over time. If the coop is heated, they will never be true cold weather chickens; they will never get used to the cold winter temperatures outside. Then, if you lose power and their heat disappears, the sudden sharp drop in temperature without time to acclimatize means you could lose your entire flock in one terrible blow.
Even if it doesn't get to that point, if your chickens are hesitant to spend time outside, they will spend even more time in the coop, making the air wet and breathing in the unhealthy, moist air. Finally, heating the house is a fire hazard if you use an infrared heat lamp (these can reach 435 degrees!)
You can heat your coop during sudden, sharp drops in temperature, just to ease the transition for my chickens in cold weather, or when temperatures remain below zero for extended periods. If you live in an area where you need to heat your chicken coop, consider purchasing a backup generator so you don't lose birds during power outages.
You can also opt for a heater thatBeautiful chicken warmerofSweeter warmer, which does not heat your entire coop, but rather takes the edge off when your chicken is resting comfortably at the neighbors' house.
4. Don't forget to collect eggs more often than usual.
If you have chickens in cold weather, some may continue to lay over the winter and the eggs may freeze. Although this is not really harmful to them, you cannot eat the eggs as they are at high risk of bacterial contamination. What happens is that the contents of the frozen egg expand and can cause tiny hairlines in the shell that you may not see with the naked eye. Bacteria can enter the shell through the cracks. Of course, the bacteria don't grow very quickly at low temperatures, but it's still not a good idea to store broken eggs.
Plus, there's nothing like opening your refrigerator to find an egg thawed and soaked everywhere---oh, what a mess!
5.Don't let your water freeze.
In winter, maintaining fresh, unfrozen water for your flock can be a challenge. There is alwaysheated water tanksto prevent your water from freezing.
Another option is to use multiple walkers. In the morning you should bring a fresh water bowl and bring in the water that has been in the coop overnight and is now frozen. When one is thawed, the other is almost frozen, so I switch them.
6. Don't postpone cleaning the cages.
Because your chickens will spend more time indoors in cold weather and therefore create more poop inside, the coop will need to be cleaned more often. Many of us here at My Pet Chicken enjoy using itdeep soil methodto manage my house instead of cleaning regularly, but do it yourself, new bedding needs to be added more often in winter to ensure everything stays dry and cozy.
7. Make sure your birds don't get too bored.
If they have a very small house and run, there may not be as much to entertain your flock as in the warmer months. If there is snow, there will be little or no sunbathing. Because the ground is frozen, dust bathing is unlikely. There won't be many insects to catch or greenery to forage. Bored birds can become feisty or even aggressive towards each other when there is nothing else to think about or do other than reinforcing the pecking order over and over again.
Relieve some of the boredom for your chickens in cold weather by adding ittreatsto their area. For example, hang a head of cabbage in your house so your girls can chop it. As they chop, it rocks, making it harder to eat right away and keeping them entertained for hours. There are other treats that work well for entertaining, including high proteinEnjoy square cakesdesigned for chickens and other domestic poultry. In the winter, anything high in fat (including grits or cracked corn) will give them the extra calories they need to stay warm. You can also simply spread some scratches around the barrel so they can reproduce. It will also entertain them.
8. Don't skimp on the gravel.
Get chickensgrindof course from small stones that they ingest as they scavenge around and scratch through the dirt looking for bits to eat. The grain acts as "teeth" to help themgizzard'chewing' their food. In winter, however, the ground may be frozen and too hard for a bird to loosen chunks to naturally gather grain. In this case, it is wise to ensure that your birds have enough of itadditional gravelto help them digest their food. Your flock will thank you for this digestive aid on cold winter days!
Do you have any other suggestions for winterizing your cold weather chickens? Share it below in the comments!
