How to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter -

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Winter is coming (whether we like it or not) and one of the most frequent questions I am asked is “How do I keep my chickens warm in winter?”.

You would be surprised how resilient chickens are but I have compiled a list of a few *safe* ways to keep your chickens warm in the winter- without burning the coop down!

This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of the products I have recommended, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Deep Bedding

– This method is new to us and we will be trying it out this year! The whole gist of deep bedding is, well… deep bedding. It is exactly what it sounds like.

12″ or so of organic bedding, be it straw/grass clippings/leaves/pine needles/wood shavings, or a mixture of whatever you have available. The large amount of bedding will keep the animals warm, allow the beneficial microorganisms to break down the manure for compost, and keep the coop from becoming “sloppy” (yes, it is as gross as that sounds).

Once a week, turn the bedding with a hay fork to allow it to evenly decompose. Another idea is to toss some corn in with the chickens every afternoon, they will scratch at it and turn the bedding themselves. More on the benefits of feeding corn in the winter later in this article.

Dry Bedding

– As previously mentioned, there are many options for bedding. Wood shavings are the most popular (NOT saw dust) but you can also use sand, straw/hay (leftover from horses/cattle is great), grass clippings, leaves, pine needles or other organic material. Whatever you choose, make sure it stays dry.

Keep your watering system positioned so it cannot be tipped over and if the bedding starts to become sloppy, clean it out or add more on top. Wet bedding can cause frozen feet/frostbite or sick chickens. It is also important to keep the bedding in the nesting boxes dry and full. Although not foolproof, this will lessen the chance of your eggs being cracked or freezing.

Draft Free

-Proper ventilation is essential, or humidity can build up and cause respiratory issues in chickens. However, you do not want your coop to be drafty. If you have windows, you could choose to slightly crack one.If your coop door is not facing the wind, you can keep it slightly ajar or leave it wide open on nice days. An old coop with lots of cracks can be sealed up but leave a few up high for ventilation. The main thing you want to avoid, is lots of cold drafts directly on the chickens.

Warming Panels

– Heat Panels found on Amazon are a popular choice for a small coop (or a few of them for a larger coop). They do not heat up enough to create a fire hazard, use a small amount of electricity, and help to make the coop more comfortable. We personally have not used them because of the size of our coop but I think that if we had a smaller one, we would give them a try. The panel emits enough warmth to warm up a chicken when she stands close to it. I have many personal friends who use these and love them!*When using any electrical source, you need to take proper precautions to prevent a fire hazard.

Cold Hardy Chicken Breeds

-If you are just starting to think about getting chickens or are considering which breeds to add to your existing flock, you may want to consider breeds that are more cold-weather hardy. Especially if you are in an area with harsh winters. Breeds of chickens that are especially tolerant to extreme weather are:

Australorp
Orpington
Silkie
Wyandotte
Rhode Island Red
New Hampshire Red
Barred Rock
Delaware
Brahma
Salmon Favorelle

This list is not all inclusive and breeds not on this list don’t necessarily do poorly in cold weather, these particular breeds just tolerate the cold better. Breeds with lots of plumage (feathers), small combs, and feathers on their legs/feet are less likely to develop frostbite and/or frozen toes.

Insulate Coop

– If at all possible, adding insulation to your coop is one way to keep it warmer during the coldest spells.

Styrofoam insulation is an inexpensive option- just make sure there is a barrier between the insulation and the chickens. The chickens will eat it! If your coop is small, you may be able to wrap the outside as well with something like tar paper. Stacking straw bales on the outside can also help insulate and prevent unwanted drafts.

Be sure, no matter how you choose to insulate your coop, that you also allow for proper ventilation and do not cover windows if at all possible.

Roosts

– Roosts should be in any coop, no matter the climate. Chickens need a place to perch at night. This is especially important in the winter months. Giving chickens a way to get off the cold ground and tuck their feet under them for warmth will help them out immensely. Chickens loosing toes to frostbite is common and a very sad site to see :(.

We had one rooster who lost almost all of his toes. He was stubborn (and maybe a little dumb) and didn’t like to roost at all. During one particularly icy/bitter cold spell, he actually froze to the floor of the coop. We were able to free him and he lived many more years but it wasn’t pretty. Yet another reason we are going to try the deep bedding method.

Feed Corn

-It is not necessary, and not particularly healthy, to feed corn to your chickens all year long. Corn is a carbohydrate. The chickens convert the corn into energy which helps them stay warm. This is very beneficial in the winter months, not so much in the summer. I don’t suggest feeding strictly corn but giving them a little extra in the winter wouldn’t hurt!*Extra bonus I learned when reading up on deep bedding: if you sprinkle corn on their bedding during your evening feeding, the chickens will scratch at it. This keeps them entertained and also helps to “turn” the bedding! Win win!

Light Bulb

-Using a traditional heat bulb is not recommended due to the high fire hazard (I can’t honestly say we never use one but on the rare occasion, we make sure it is extra secure).

A simple light bulb suspended over your water source, can keep it from freezing solid, but not in sub-zero temps. If you live in a climate with harsh weather, I have seen excellent reviews on heated chicken waterers and heated waterer bases.

In fact, I believe we will invest in one of these this year- frozen waterers is one of the worst parts of owning animals during winter (in my opinion). You would still want to make sure it is secure as any electricity can pose a danger. I have also seen some people put a light bulb in a cinder block, and then the water on top of the block. Supposedly, this keeps the water from freezing as well. Here is a simple tutorial from City Girl Farming.

A light source also will help your egg production, as the amount of daylight directly correlates to the number of eggs you will gather. However, many people like to give their hens some time “off” in the winter months.

Entertainment

No, you don’t need to install a TV or perform for your chickens (although, they might enjoy it- be sure to post a video in the comments if you do!) but chickens get bored too! Giving them some entertainment will help with the dull winter days. Be sure to allow your chickens to leave the coop/go into a chicken run during winter, even if there is snow outside. They enjoy snow as much as a little kid and will appreciate the chance to stretch their legs. Sprinkling some corn, feed, or meal worms will give them something to scratch at and “search for” in the snow.

Entertainment doesn’t innately keep them warmer (unless you give them corn as part of it) but it does help with boredom. Not very pleasant but… sometimes bored chickens will start pecking at each other. If you have a fairly large, bored flock and one starts bleeding… well, it can turn down right ugly pretty quick. Pinterest has great ideas for simple suspended chicken treat blocks or toss in some scraps/treats once in a while- you don’t need to keep them entertained all the time but they will appreciate a little surprise now and again. Amazon even has chicken toys if you really like to spoil your girls!

These tips are sure to help you (and your feathered friends) this winter! If this list overwhelms you, don’t feel like you have to implement all of these ideas. Do what you can and don’t forget, chickens are fairly hardy animals and can tolerate more than you may expect! If you have further questions, please comment below or send me a message.

Thank you for stopping by the homestead!

Until next time,

Melissa