There are a wide range of chickens bred especially for cold weather but if you are a backyard chicken farmer you will still want to know how to take care of your chickens in the winter.

Keeping a small flock of chickens within your backyard often means they will need some extra care to make it through the winter healthy, safely, and happily. Many large scale farmers don’t need to go to extra lengths to pamper their chickens, small flock farmers must remember that a handful of chickens produce smaller amounts of collective body heat than a large flock of say 50 or more chickens. You can tell if your flock are cold if they stand on one foot and fluff their feathers.

To keep your chickens happy through the cold weather, here are a few tips for you to consider:

Light

If you live in extreme climates, by adding a heat lamp is an effective way to keep your chickens warmer. Aside from taking the chill off the coop, your chickens egg production can increase (as chickens prefer to have around 14 hours of daylight for ideal egg laying conditions).

A great addition you can add to your coop is a controlled outlet that can automatically turn your light on when the temperature drops below 35, and turns it back off when it rises above 45.

Insulation

Chicken coop insulation can be simple (and cheap) as sheets of cardboard or foam. There are also many chicken coops for sale that include great insulation. Even most cheap chicken coops come with sufficient insulation. If opting to use insulation, remember to cover it up. Chickens love nothing more than to peck at anything.


Patch up Holes

If your chicken coop has become drafty or has lots of open spaces, you should consider covering them up for winter. Just be mindful not to cut off all their ventilation because your chickens still need fresh air.

Clean Up After Your Chickens

Remember not to neglect cleaning your chicken coop out in the winter. Chickens often prefer to stay indoors more when it’s cold. If you decide to close up the coop more than it is in the summer, all the smell can start to bother your chicken’s lungs. A sanitary chicken environment is certainly a must.

Keep Water Drinkable

If freezing water is a problem in your area, consider purchasing a specialty heater for the water. Tuck it inside your water container, or place the container on top and it will ensure to keep your chicken’s water from freezing over.

Add Plastic

Chickens don’t enjoy getting wet or staying out in the wind. Adding plastic (or a piece of tarp) to the outside of the their run will cut down on the harsh elements of winter significantly. Keep in mind there are a number of large chicken coops for sale that include draft prevention covers.

Include Entertainment
Remember, chickens need exercise. In the winter they will be less likely to be roaming around, so it’s a good idea to provide them with an incentive to exercise. Throw corn or other grains into their chicken run and allow them to scratch around for it. Place their food and water containers at opposite ends of the coop so they are required to walk from one place to the other.

Keep your chickens occupied will also lower the chances of them picking on one another out of boredom or grumpiness from being cooped up.

Add Bedding

In the winter months, take time to add additional bedding to the nest boxes and coop. If you live in a particularly cold region, add extra straw. If you happen to live in a warmer region, add extra wood shavings or pellets.

Consider these details which will help ensure your chickens live comfortably through the cold weather. Like most things with these hardy little birds, it doesn’t take a lot of work to keep them happy and healthy. They will certainly appreciate the extra pampering, and could even reward you with some extra eggs. Even in the chilly winter!