How to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter

Our clucky friends may have feathers, but they still need to stay warm on cold winter nights! Keeping chickens warm is essential in winter temperatures, so that they stay safe and healthy. Here's a quick rundown of how to keep chickens warm in winter so your flock stays warm and happy.

No heaters

New chicken keepers feel the urge to use a chicken coop heater in the winter, but this is actually a safety risk for your flock! Heat lamps and other devices could cause a fire if they short out. Meanwhile, if the electricity goes out, your chickens will suffer from a cold shock.

Proper insulation

When people say to "winterize" your chicken coop, this is what they mean. Insulation is one of the easiest and most straightforward ways to keep your chickens safe from cold air.

If you can spring for it, foam or fibreglass insulation will work very well. Install it into the chicken coop, then cover it with plywood so the chickens can't peck at it.

If that's too pricey, horse blankets or other thick cloth covers will work just as well! Layer them on the outside of the coop to keep out the wind chill. You can also stack straw bales against the walls as insulation.

The important thing to remember when insulating your coop is making sure your chickens still get fresh air. Insulation will trap heat on cold nights, but if you don't have proper coop ventilation, your chickens won't be able to breathe. Drill holes near the top of the wall or cut out a window.

Deep litter method

Also known as the built-up litter system, this is a sustainable way to manage the litter in your chicken coop. Think of it as a compost pile for your chicken coop!

Start by layering "brown" materials like wood shavings, fallen leaves, straw or hay, and even paper. The chickens will then poop onto this layer, after which you'll aerate the compost and scatter more brown matter. Aeration is key for deep litter since oxygen triggers decomposition.

Many chicken owners say they can go up to a year without cleaning a complete clean-out of the litter layer. The important things to ensure are:

• Proper ventilation
• A good chicken to space ratio (1 chicken every 0.3sqm)
• Continuous aeration

Your coop shouldn't smell funky despite the litter. If it does, aerate the pile or build up the brown matter. Should that fail, clear out the litter and start over.

Floor warmers

To help keep a coop warm in winter while raising chickens, you'll also need to insulate the floor. If you don't want to use the deep litter method, you can simply stack straw and shavings at least 15.0cm deep. This will help with keeping a heated coop for your entire flock, especially if you own laying hens.

Warm water

It's essential that you give your chickenswarmwater – not hot. They won't be able to balance their internal temperatures if you give them too-hot water. Warm water is more than enough in cold climates.

Thick roosting bars

Giving your chickens something to roost on prevents their feet from spending too much time on the cold ground. Don't use metal, though – that'll just create a cold frame. Instead, make roosts out of wood and similarly insulated material.

Additionally, make sure your roosts provide enough space for your chickens to rest their feet and sit on them! This way, they can keep their toes warm by themselves.

Cracked corn

Chickens love cracked corn during cold winters! They're hardy birds, but they love to scratch grains to keep warm. The movements and the act of digestion help them warm themselves up.

Petroleum jelly

Smear petroleum jelly on the wattles and combs to prevent frostbite! Breeds with large combs and wattles are particularly at risk.

Chicken breeds for cold weather

If you start off with cold-hardy chicken breeds, you'll have less trouble keeping them warm. Choosing the right chickens for your entire coop can help keep them warm in winter. Some good breeds to raise if you experience cold winters are:

• Australorp
• Delaware
• Plymouth Rock
• Wyandottes

Keeping chickens warm in winter

Keep your chickens happy all winter long by ensuring they have good air flow, fresh water, and warm air inside the coop. This will help them get through the colder months as they stay warm. If you've been wondering how to keep chickens warm in winter, we hope this guide helps!