This year has been tough for everyone, and it’s crazy to think that it’s almost winter. 2020 feels like it’s both dragged on forever and passed in a flash.
If you have chickens, you might worry about taking care of them in the winter season.
Maybe you’ve never pinned down the right plan that lets you feel confident in keeping your chickens comfortable. Or, maybe investing in chickens was one of your early quarantine projects, and now winter’s coming, and you’re running around like… nevermind.
We’re here to make sure you know how to care for chickens in the winter so they don’t get their feathers in a ruffle, and so you don’t either.
1. Deep Litter Method
Depending on where you live, the cold can be more or less detrimental.
But no matter how chilly it may get wherever you are, the deep litter method has multiple benefits for your chicken coop.
What Is It?
Essentially, compost.
The idea here is that the birds’ bathroom is a compost pile that sustains itself.
In their hay, you’ll lay a generous layer of organic material like pine shavings. That begins the composting process.
The chickens aerate it naturally. It helps if you put a layer of corn on top, too.
You’ll clean this out once or twice a year, and you can use it for compost!
How Does It Help?
Other than acting as a sort of natural probiotic for your hens, the deep litter method maintains a noticeable warmth within the coop during the winter.
In harsh winters, you’ll want every peck of help you can get.
It’s best to start this in the earlier seasons, that way the compost has enough time to establish and regulate itself.
2. Reliable Coop
It’s pretty likely that no matter where you are, you’ll spend less time outside in the winter than you would in the warmer months.
Your joints get colder and tighten, so you want to get all of the heavy-duty preparations out of the way beforehand. One of the best ways to ensure your care for chickens in the winter is to make sure they have a dependable chicken coop.
We’ve found that this design withstands the worst of the weather. It’ll ensure you don’t have to rough the harsh weather, and that your chickens don’t have to endure anything less than your best.
3. Sunlight
Even though it can be a joy to witness your chickens first snow, that one experience is about all they like out of the cold weather. The best way that you can take care of chickens in the winter is to provide as much opportunity for warmth as possible.
However, this doesn’t mean adding a heater inside the coop. That’s just a disaster waiting to happen.
It does mean a few things:
- Ensure ventilation
- Add a “sunroof” if possible
- Move the coop into sunlight if possible
You might not be able to completely relocate their coop. But, if you can build an extra one in the sun where they can spend some time in, it’ll help.
Defrost the Feathers
The best way to keep your chickens’ feathers from freezing is to make sure they don’t freeze in the first place.
If it’s your first winter, we know it’s a lot to worry about. You’re taking care of a lot of little lives. But with this information, you’re in good hands. So they are, too.
Be sure to check out more of our lifestyle advice found here.
About Jammie Morey
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