Roost & Chill: Prepping Backyard Chickens for Cooler Weather

Autumn is upon us and that means pumpkin spice lattes, bonfires, and prepping your backyard coop for cooler weather! Now is the time to begin creating a winter wonderland to keep your chickens snug and warm before the cold weather arrives. Whether you’re new to owning backyard chickens or a chicken aficionado (cat ladies were so 2018), take a look at our short list of essential care tips for raising chickens in the winter months.

The Chicken Coop & Run

Get your fall projects underway by patching any holes, gaps, or cracks in your coop. This will minimize drafts and fortify the enclosure against rain and snowfall. Although no one likes a drafty coop, it’s important to maintain adequate air flow, even during the cooler months. Lack of appropriate ventilation can lead to ammonia build-up and respiratory ailments for your friendly flock. Mold can also grow in bedding due to warm, moist environments.

A good way to manage temperate while reducing humidity is to place vents near the roof so that the chickens are kept out of direct air flow (brrr!). Try a mesh vent with a hatch for easy venting during the day and convenient closure for the chilly night hours.

Looking to upgrade your coop to a chicken mansion? Consider adding a sunroof! Well insulated windows are great for trapping heat in the winter months and keeping your birds comfortable.

Poultry Bedding

If you’ve never heard of the deep litter method, you’re in for a game changer. This technique provides a sustainable way of managing litter, while insulating your flock. Layer pine or aspen shavings over the floor of the coop. Stir the litter daily with a rake rather than removing or replacing the soiled bedding. This creates natural movement and aeration and the dispersal encourages scratching and pecking as well.

Top the litter off weekly until a healthy compost layer forms. This allows good microbes to flourish in a self-cleaning environment while bad bacteria is readily consumed, keeping the coop insulated all year round.

Feeding Tips for Chickens

Chickens, like humans and other animals, expend more energy in the cold. This means more calories are necessary in the winter to maintain health and wellness. As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to feed 1.5x more than you would over the spring and summer. In cooler months, chickens are recovering from egg laying and require extra carbohydrates and protein.

Supplement your chickens’ normal feed with tasty snacks like oatmeal, mealworms, scratch, nutrient dense leafy greens, and even a drop of yogurt. Healthy treats are a great way to show your chickens some extra love while looking after their seasonal needs. Tis the season after all!

Best Chicken Breeds for Cold Weather

If you’re in the planning phase of your backyard coop, consider the top chicken breeds best suited to cold climates: