This month

Winter care for backyard chickens

Heated waterers and bases, draft-free ventilation, run covers, winter lighting and safer heat, with fire-safety rules from fire marshals and UMN Extension.

Chicks & brooding 6Coops 3Runs & fencing 3Coop automation 6Feeders & waterers 11Feed & supplements 1
A wooden coop in a snowy yard with hens out on a trampled patch
Photo: thievingjoker, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

Winter chicken care: water first, heat last

Winter chicken care is mostly about water, dryness and wind. University of Minnesota Extension notes that healthy, fully feathered hens handle cold well in a dry, draft-free coop. Moist air from breath and droppings is the bigger risk, because damp combs and wattles are the ones that get frostbite. So keep vents open high under the roof, block drafts at roost level, and keep water from freezing.

  • Unfrozen water. A heated waterer or a heated base under a metal fount saves trips with a kettle.
  • Ventilation. Leave vents above the roosts open even in cold weather; close only low openings that blow on the birds (ventilation guide).
  • Roosts. UMN suggests wide wooden roosts, about 9 inches per bird and at least a foot off the floor, so hens cover their toes while they sleep.
  • More feed. Hens may eat up to 25% more in cold weather (UMN); a handful of scratch in the late afternoon is a fine extra.

Chicks & brooding

All 6 in chicks & brooding

Coops

All 3 in coops

Runs & fencing

All 3 in runs & fencing

Coop automation

All 6 in coop automation

Feeders & waterers

All 11 in feeders & waterers

Feed & supplements

All 1 in feed & supplements

Heat, light and fire safety

Heat lamps start coop firesFire marshals warn that heat lamps are a common cause of winter coop fires and recommend skipping lamps in the coop; if you add heat, choose a flat radiant panel or heated perch, mount it as the maker directs, keep bedding away, and never hang a lamp by its cord or a spring clamp alone (UMN). Avoid long-term extension cords.Source: UMN Extension, Caring for chickens in cold weather

Hens lay less as days shorten. A coop light on a timer, such as the AutoCoop LayLight2, can add morning light if you choose to, but extra light is optional and many keepers let hens rest. A solar door rated for the cold, like the ChickenGuard PRO Solar (listed to -4°F), keeps the routine running on short days.

Covered runs and wild birds

A clear or tarp run cover keeps snow out of the run so hens go outside on cold, dry days. It also keeps wild birds from feed and water, which matters because bird flu spreads mainly from wild birds (USDA APHIS).

Report sick birdsUSDA APHIS asks backyard keepers to report sick birds or unusual deaths to the state veterinarian or USDA at 1-866-536-7593, and to keep wild birds away from the flock.Source: USDA APHIS Defend the Flock

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Winter care: questions

Do chickens need a heat lamp in winter?
Healthy adult hens usually do not, provided the coop is dry, ventilated and draft-free (UMN Extension). Fire marshals warn that heat lamps are a common cause of coop fires.
How do I keep chicken water from freezing?
Use a heated waterer or a heated base rated for your lows, such as Premier 1's All-Season waterer (listed to -20°F) or a 110–125 W base under a metal fount.
Should I close all coop vents in winter?
No. Keep vents above roost height open to let moisture out; close only low openings that blow directly on the birds.
Do chickens need extra light in winter?
Not for health. Light on a timer can keep hens laying, but it is optional. See why your chickens are not laying.
How cold is too cold for chickens?
It depends on breed, wind and moisture. Watch for pale or blackened comb tips and hens standing hunched; contact a veterinarian if a bird seems unwell.