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How to keep chickens warm in winter (and when to add heat)

Dry air, liquid water and the safer kind of heat if you use any. The cold itself is the easy part.

Updated November 2026 · 8 min read

A black hen standing on a patch of grass between snowbanks
Photo: Syrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The short version
  • Keep the coop dry and ventilated: UMN ties frostbite mainly to moisture combined with cold.
  • UMN and the University of Arkansas suggest supplemental heat when the coop drops below 35°F, placed at nest-box height or the lowest roost.
  • Water must stay liquid: use a heated waterer or heated base and keep a spare (UMN).
  • Expect birds to eat up to 25% more feed in cold weather and give free-access grit (UMN).
  • Heat lamps are a leading cause of coop fires: use radiant panels or secured, guarded fixtures, never hung by the cord.

Learning how to keep chickens warm in winter mostly means keeping them dry. A healthy, fully feathered hen fluffs her feathers into a down jacket and tucks her feet under her on the roost. What hurts chickens in winter is damp air, frozen water, drafts at roost level and, too often, an unsafe heat lamp.

This guide lists the winter jobs in order of impact, using the University of Minnesota Extension's cold-weather guide, the University of Arkansas and fire-marshal advice on heat. Whether to add heat is a real question: UMN and Arkansas both suggest supplemental heat below 35°F in the coop, and if you do, it has to be the safer kind, set up to fire-marshal rules.

How cold is too cold for chickens?

UMN notes that most poultry are comfortable between 60°F and 75°F and that a chicken's normal body temperature is about 106°F. Feathers trap that heat well, which is why adult birds handle freezing nights if they are dry and out of the wind. UMN and the University of Arkansas both set a line for adding heat: when coop temperatures drop below 35°F.

A large Light Brahma hen standing on short grass
Heavy, well-feathered breeds such as the Brahma handle cold well.Photo: Ryan Zierke at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
35°FCoop temperature below which to add heatUMN Extension; University of Arkansas
106°FNormal chicken body temperatureUMN Extension
25%More feed in cold weather (up to)UMN Extension
9 inRoost space per chicken in winterUMN Extension

Watch the birds as well as the thermometer. Arkansas lists fluffed feathers and huddling as signs of cold stress. Young birds that are not fully feathered, sick birds and birds in the middle of a molt are much more vulnerable.

How to keep chickens warm in winter, step by step

  1. 1. Keep the air dry with ventilation

    Do not seal the coop. UMN suggests roof vents, a partly open south-facing window and burlap over windows, and says to add airflow if you smell ammonia or see moisture. Close low drafts at roost height. Full detail: chicken coop ventilation.

    Govee H5103 WiFi Thermometer HygrometerSwitchBot IP65 Indoor/Outdoor Hygrometer
  2. 2. Deepen the bedding

    UMN: 4–6 in of straw or shavings, with a 6–8 in kickboard at the door; Arkansas: 4–8 in of shavings adds insulation. Remove wet spots and put droppings trays under the roosts.

    Manna Pro Fresh Flakes Pine Shavings, 4 cu ftEaton Pet & Pasture Hemp Bedding, 33 lb
  3. 3. Use wide wooden roosts

    UMN: roosts at least 12 in off the floor, 9 in per bird, made of 2 × 4 or 2 × 2 wood. Metal and plastic hold cold (UMN, Arkansas). A flat 2 × 4 lets hens cover their toes with their feathers.

    PETSFIT Square Roosting Perch 55x40, 4-TierK&H Thermo-Chicken Heated Perch, 26", 40W
  4. 4. Keep water from freezing

    UMN: constant access to fresh, unfrozen water, using heated founts, heated bases or partly covered heated dishes, plus a spare waterer.

    Premier 1 All-Season Heated Waterer, 3 GalFarm Innovators HB-60P Heated 2-Gal Nipple DrinkerLittle Giant Heater Base for Metal Waterers, 110 WHarris Farms Heated Poultry Drinker Base, 125 W
  5. 5. Feed a little more

    Intake can rise up to 25% in cold weather (UMN). Keep feeders full and give free-access grit all winter. A handful of scratch in the late afternoon is a common habit; keep it small so it does not replace balanced feed.

  6. 6. Shelter the run

    A cover or windbreak on the run keeps snow off and gives birds a dry place to scratch on calm days.

    VitalCozy Chicken Run Cover 11.5x6.6 ft, WinterNuanchu Chicken Run Cover 11.3x6.3 ft, Black
  7. 7. Collect eggs often

    Eggs freeze and crack in a cold nest. Arkansas and UMN both say to collect regularly and discard cracked or frozen eggs.

Red hens walking across a snow-covered backyard
Hens will come out on snow if the coop stays dry.Photo: lexly87 aka Duc N. Ly, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

Do chickens need a heater in winter?

Many healthy, acclimated flocks in mild winters do fine without heat. In colder regions, UMN and Arkansas suggest supplemental heat once the coop falls below 35°F, placed at nest-box height or the lowest roost rung, with a thermometer at each height so you can see what the birds actually feel. Arkansas lists radiant options such as brooder plates or hanging heaters, or an approved heat lamp with a heat bulb, and says to follow all fire-risk warnings and use a thermostat.

The goal is to take the edge off, not to make the coop warm. Big swings between a heated coop and a frigid run can be hard on birds, and a power cut is a bigger shock to birds used to heat. Radiant panels use a fraction of a lamp's wattage and have no exposed hot bulb.

ProductWattageTemperatureThermostatMountingSafety
Farm Innovators 2-in-1 Radiant Coop/Brooder Heater200 W coop mode; 50 W brooder mode——Freestanding, wall, hanging or horizontalETL listed, thermal protector, zero clearance (as listed)
ZEMIRO CHARGE 180W Radiant Coop Heater, 2 Plates180 W86–167°F, button or remote———
K&H Thermo-Chicken Heated Perch, 26", 40W40 W—Dual internal——

Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.

Is a heat lamp safe in a chicken coop?

Heat lamps are a well-known cause of coop and barn fires: hot bulbs, dusty coops, dry bedding and birds that knock fixtures loose. State and county fire marshals regularly warn about them each winter.

Heat-lamp fire safety in the coopPrefer radiant panels or heat plates. If you use a lamp: use only an approved fixture with a caged bulb guard (UMN); never hang it by its cord (UMN) or rely on a spring clamp alone, and secure it with a chain or cable; keep it at least 20 in from bedding and other flammable materials (Penn State); keep wires away from birds, water and litter; and use extension cords only short-term (UMN). Clean dust off fixtures and check them daily. More: heat lamp fire safety.Source: UMN Extension; Clark County (WA) Fire Marshal; Penn State Extension

Heated waterer bases are electrical too. Follow each maker's instructions on placement, keep cords protected from pecking and use a properly rated outdoor outlet.

How do you prevent and spot frostbite?

Frostbite hits the comb, wattles, toes and feet. Arkansas describes affected tissue as blackened or gray and brittle. UMN says it is caused mainly by high moisture combined with cold, so ventilation and dry bedding are the real prevention. Large single-combed breeds such as Leghorns are most exposed; see cold-hardy breeds.

Close-up of a rooster's red comb and wattles
Large combs and wattles are most at risk of frostbite.Photo: watts_photos, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

UMN notes that petroleum jelly on combs and wattles can help prevent frostbite but does not treat it. If you see frostbite or signs of infection, contact a veterinarian; do not rub or cut affected tissue.

Winter problems and what to do

SignLikely causeWhat to do
Frost or condensation on wallsToo little ventilation, too many birdsOpen high vents, remove wet bedding, check stocking density
Ammonia smellWet litter, poor airflowAdd ventilation, refresh bedding, droppings trays
Dark or gray tips on combsFrostbite (cold + moisture)Improve airflow; contact a veterinarian
Frozen watererNo heat sourceHeated waterer or base; keep a spare (UMN)
Fluffed, huddled birdsCold stress (Arkansas)Check drafts, bedding and feed; consider safer heat below 35°F
Fewer eggsShort days, moltNormal; optional light to about 14 h (UMN)

Source: UMN Extension; University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension

Should you add light in winter for eggs?

Egg laying slows as days shorten. UMN suggests about 14 hours of light a day if you want winter eggs, adding light before sunrise, not after sunset, so birds can find the roost at dusk, and adjusting timers after December 20 as days lengthen. Lighting is optional: the Merck Veterinary Manual notes that winter light raises winter egg numbers but not the total a hen lays in her life. A low-wattage LED on a timer is enough for a small coop.

A red hen house with rooster cut-outs on the door in deep snow
Short winter days are why laying slows.Photo: rkramer62, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

If your hens stopped laying in fall, they may simply be molting; see why are my chickens not laying?

Winter mistakes to avoid

  • Sealing every vent. Moisture, not cold, drives frostbite (UMN).
  • An unsecured heat lamp hung by its cord or a clamp.
  • Metal or plastic roosts. They hold cold (UMN, Arkansas).
  • Only one waterer. If it fails on a frozen morning, birds go without; keep a spare.
  • Long-term extension cords to the coop (UMN).
  • Adding light after sunset. Birds get caught off the roost when it switches off.
  • Forgetting the extra feed. Plan for up to 25% more (UMN); see what that costs in the feed and egg cost calculator.
  • Wild birds at the feeder. Winter brings migrating waterfowl; USDA APHIS asks keepers to keep wild birds away from feed and water and to report sick birds or unusual deaths to the state veterinarian or 1-866-536-7593.

Winter gear is collected in the winter care hub and feeders and waterers; compare best heated chicken waterers. The seasonal calendar lists this month's jobs.

Verdict

Keep the coop dry and ventilated, bedding deep, roosts wooden and wide, and water liquid with a heated waterer or base. Add heat only when the coop falls below about 35°F, and then use a radiant panel or a fully secured, guarded fixture, never a lamp hanging by its cord.

Feed and egg cost calculatorType your bag price and size, flock size and eggs per week: see feed per day, how long a bag lasts, monthly…Flock care checklistDaily, weekly, monthly and seasonal backyard chicken chores in one printable checklist. Ticks reset each…

Questions

How do I keep my chickens warm in winter without electricity?
Focus on dryness and shelter: high vents open, low drafts closed, 4–8 in of dry bedding, wide wooden roosts and a covered run. Swap waterers morning and evening if you cannot heat one.
At what temperature do chickens need heat?
UMN and the University of Arkansas suggest supplemental heat when the coop drops below 35°F, placed at nest-box height or the lowest roost, with a thermometer to check.
Is a heat lamp safe for chickens in winter?
Heat lamps carry a real fire risk. If you use one, secure it with a chain, never by its cord, use a bulb guard, keep it 20 in from bedding and avoid long-term extension cords. Radiant panels are a safer choice.
How do I keep chicken water from freezing?
Use a heated waterer, a heated base under a metal fount or a heated nipple drinker, and keep a spare (UMN). Place it where birds will not knock bedding into it.
How do I prevent frostbite on chicken combs?
Reduce moisture with ventilation and dry bedding, since UMN ties frostbite mainly to cold plus moisture. Petroleum jelly may help prevent it but does not treat it; contact a veterinarian if you see frostbite.
Do chickens need light in winter to lay?
They lay less as days shorten. UMN suggests about 14 hours of light for winter laying, added before sunrise. It is optional and does not increase lifetime egg numbers (Merck Veterinary Manual).
Should I close the coop vents in winter?
No. Close low openings that blow on roosting birds, but keep high vents open so moisture and ammonia can escape.

Sources

  1. University of Minnesota Extension, Caring for chickens in cold weather
  2. University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, Cold weather and backyard poultry (2024)
  3. Penn State Extension, Brooding of Domestic Fowl (heat source 20 in from flammables)
  4. Clark County (WA) Fire Marshal, Safety tips to prevent a chicken coop fire
  5. Merck Veterinary Manual, Laying and reproduction in backyard poultry
  6. USDA APHIS, Defend the Flock