How to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter
A lot of people this time of year become anxious about keeping their chickens warm in Winter. I am no exception, I worry about everything including the weather.
Generally, chickens do not need supplemental heat. They will puff up, trapping air between their feathers to keep warm. Additionally, they will roost together, generating more heat.
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If you are like me, I still want to do something to keep them warm in winter, so here are a few things you can do:
Make sure to block any drafts.
This is important. When they are puffed up, air blowing on them defeats the purpose. Look for cracks or where the boards don’t come together well.
You can add a tarp around the coop or on the outside of the run. We did this on one side.
In previous years, instead of purchasing an additional tarp, on the fenced area I stapled large commercial grade trash bags. Since my husband works in home improvement and remodeling, we have an abundance of these.
This year I used feed bags to block the draft. It adds an extra layer of insulation and it’s a great way to repurpose them. I started saving them in August so I would have plenty. Many people will use them on the inside of the coop as well.
Add straw and additional bedding to keep chickens warm in Winter.
I don’t care too much for straw, when it gets wet, it’s stinky and moldy. I feel like I’m cleaning it out more frequently. However, because it’s hollow, it traps air, making it a great insulator. So adding a few extra inches inside the coop will help keep your chickens warm in winter.
A lot of people are against straw for the fear of harboring mites and lice. Clean out regularly if this is a concern and make sure your chickens have a place to dust bathe. They should be fine.
Do the deep litter in your coop.
I really want to try the deep litter method but since we have a hen house and not a traditional coop, this doesn’t really work for us. Plus being in Texas rarely does our temperature drop in the teens and I can’t remember the last time we were in single digits. Today it’s 66 degrees!
But if you have a tradition coop (one your walk in), I would give it a try. Deep litter works by composting the chicken poop and bedding, naturally providing heat. Some people report it will raise the temperature in the coop 10-15 degrees. Read more in this article.
Feed scratch and cracked corn in the evening to raise their body temperature.
Crack corn is like candy to chickens. They love it. When their body metabolizes the corn, it raises their internal temperature. I’ll sometimes give a little in the mornings after a really cold night. If you are using the deep litter method, sprinkle in the bedding and the chickens will do part of the chores by turning the litter.
Make sure your coop has good ventilation.
Moisture in the coop causes lots of problems. In the beginning, I struggled with “blocking any drafts and make sure you have good ventilation”. These two things seem to contradict each other. But then I learned, you don’t want any drafts where your chickens roost, so the lower and middle area of the coop should be sealed. The top of the coop where the sides meet the roof is a great place to allow ventilation. This will enable the moisture and ammonia to escape the coop and still keep the chickens warm.
Chicken’s respirations and poop create a damp environment. Chicken poop consist of urine (they don’t urinate separately), which contains a lot of moisture and nitrates. The nitrates when wet creates the ammonia smell. Ammonia can damage the airways of your chickens.
Keeping your coop clean will help and use Sweet PDZ. It’s a mineral that naturally neutralizes the ammonia. You can read more about it here.
Some people add supplemental heat to keep chickens warm in Winter.
If you decide to go this route, use caution. Never use a heat lamp to keep your chickens warm in winter. The bulbs can burst, and the bedding could catch on fire. Additionally, if your electricity goes out, your birds will not have acclimated to the cold.
Heat also creates extra moisture. However, you may feel it’s necessary to add supplemental heat. I’ve looked at the Cozy Coop heaters and thought this would be a good option to place in the run. It can be mounted to the wall and the chickens have the option of getting near it if they want. Most of the reviews are good.
It still makes me nervous to add heat unsupervised. I would definitely wrap the cords to prevent them from shorting out. and if you decide to add heat, you may want to purchase a backup generator.
For us, mice and rats have become a problem. They chew everything and will chew the electrical cords which is another fire hazard.
Frostbite
Frostbite is caused by moisture in the coop not cold temps and can occur when it gets below freezing. To prevent frostbite, apply Vaseline to the comb and wattles. Rub it gently into all the red areas then apply another coat. It should feel sticky. Check each day. When it dries out, repeat.
Frostbite will cause the comb to turn black. If you notice any black area, be extremely careful when applying Vaseline. Don’t pick off and let it fall off on its own.
In addition to frostbite, moisture can cause respiratory issues and mold-related illnesses so good ventilation is a must for keeping your chickens healthy.
Boredom Busters
If your chickens are in the coop and run more because of the cold weather, be sure and add some things to keep them from getting bored.
A cabbage tetherball is a great option. We have a swing but I’ve never seen them on it. A mirror works well too. When bored, chickens will peck each other causing injuries and sometimes death. If this happens, be sure and check out my post on a chicken first aid kit.
So, another issue in winter is keeping the water from freezing.
Luckily, we only had a few days last year where the water froze, and we were home to switch out. In the mornings, I would bring the frozen water in and when it thawed, I took it back outside just in time when the other was frozen.
We’ve decided to purchase a water heater this year. If you do, just use precautions like you would a regular heater. Wrap the cords to keep moisture out. Check frequently for any fraying.
Chickens do well in temps between 45- and 65-degrees F. Just remember your chickens are wearing their down jackets. Molting helps to prepare them for winter. Any damaged or worn-out feathers are replaced with new. If you are still concerned about the temp, add a thermometer in the coop.
Our chickens no longer sleep in their coop. They roost in the run outside, which is secure. Last year I was worried and went out to “rescue” them (I was going to put them in the coop), when I put my hand under them to pick them up, their little feet were toasty warm. That eased my mind a lot. Now I only put them in the coop when it gets below 30 degrees F. With the tarp on one side and the trash bags on the other, the wind is blocked and the run feels about 10 degrees warmer.
What do you do to keep your chickens warm in Winter?
