Wintering Chickens in Snowy Climates

Wintering Chickens in Snowy Climates

Minnesota Winters can be tough not only on people- but on poultry as well. Here's a few hints on how to keep your hens happy.

1) Make sure they have an area to dust bath, even in the winter. We put up a 2x4 structure and cover it with thicker clear plastic. Not only does this give them more sheltered area to roam (think of it like a little chicken greenhouse that doesn't have to be heated), but if it's in an area that has dirt- it allows them to have dry dust bathing material. If there's small pebbles- they will be able to get grit also, another major perk!

2) Give them fruits and veggies. Your birds will love you for throwing out sliced oranges, apples, bananas, and most other fruits (no grapes or raisins). Picky about fresh fruit? Chickens aren't as picky as us. Don't throw away your bruised or overly ripe fruit- give it to your hens. Same with veggies- especially lettuce!! Carrots and tough veggies need to be finely chopped or even precooked if given to hens.

3) Fresh water is mandatory. Water in the winter to poultry- is literally their lifesaver. It's what helps them regulate body temperature, keep from freezing, and stay healthy. Without water, even for short times- your hens could get very sick- or worse. I use a bucket waterer with nipple nozzles. This keeps moisture to a minimum (a foe for winter coops). Moist air can not only cause lung issues in the winter, but also increased freezing  of comb and wattle- frostbite. Black spots on combs and wattles? That could definitely be frostbite- something that is quite painful.

4) Consider minimal heat. If your coop is free from drafts- then only minimal heat is needed. This can come in the form of simply having enough hens to put out enough btu's to keep the coop warm. My go to is always putting the waterer in the coop. If the waterer freezes, I need to provide a bit more heat- like a 50 or 100 watt bulb- aimed directly at the waterer. If that resolved the issue- then the coop is fine as well. If you're keeping your coop toasty warm- your hens can quickly die if that heat source is removed (power failure, burned out bulb, etc). This is because they are used to the warmer temps all the time. If your hens are used to the cold- they can handle more winter fluctuations.

5) Additional light must be provided if winter laying is desired. Hens need more light than our short northern days allows- in order to lay eggs. Supplement with a light and you'll notice production increase. Be aware though that this will cause your hen to use up her egg supply quicker. Normally in nature- she gets a rest in the winter from laying eggs.... which prolongs her years of egg productivity.  The choice is yours though!

6) Provide fun. Throw some scratch grains in the coop every once in a while (treats should make up 10% or less of a hen's diet). This gives the hens a fun time to search for treats on the ground- and also encourages them to turn over the bedding in the coop. This helps the bedding stay healthier, drier, and lighter during the winter. You can also give them toys or unusual things to play with. They love it when you hang out with them as well, talking to them- and this gives you time to check your flock for sickness, injuries, etc. If a bird is sick- it's important to move them quickly away from the flock. Sickness spreads rapidly in winter when everyone is cooped up!

That's it for now! Feel free to ask any questions below! I'm a poultry testing agent for Minnesota- and will be happy to try to help you! Now stay warm, go cuddle up to a chicken!