Keep Your Flock Cozy, Healthy, and Cluckin’ Through the Cold

Winter weather can be beautiful — frosty mornings, cozy coops, and that peaceful stillness after a snowfall. But for chicken keepers, it also brings new challenges. Cold temperatures, frozen waterers, and shorter days can all affect your flock’s comfort and productivity.

The good news? With a few simple steps, your hens will stay happy, warm, and laying all season long.

🏠 Keep the Coop Dry and Draft-Free

Chickens are tougher than they look! They can handle the cold better than dampness or drafts. The key to a healthy winter coop is ventilation without exposure.

✅ Do: Allow airflow near the roofline to prevent moisture buildup.
🚫 Don’t: Let cold air blow directly across roosts or nesting boxes.

Excess moisture can lead to frostbite — especially on combs and wattles — so make sure your coop stays dry, even on snowy days.

🪶 Bedding and Warmth

Skip the heat lamps — they’re risky and often unnecessary. Instead, focus on insulating from the ground up.

  • Use deep, dry bedding like hemp or coffee grounds to trap warmth and absorb moisture.

  • Add fresh bedding regularly and stir it to keep it clean.

  • Place roosts higher up so your hens can perch off the cold floor.

Your chickens will huddle together and keep each other warm naturally.

💧 Don’t Let Water Freeze

Frozen waterers are a constant winter struggle. Chickens need steady access to fresh water to stay healthy and keep laying.

Tips:

  • Use a heated water base or bucket if possible.

  • Bring smaller waterers inside at night and return them in the morning.

  • Check often — sometimes even a quick midday refill makes all the difference.

🐓 Nutrition and Routine

Shorter days mean fewer eggs, but that’s totally normal. You can support your flock’s health with a little extra care:

  • Offer a balanced layer feed with added protein and calcium.

  • Provide scratch grains in the evening — it helps generate warmth as they digest.

  • Make sure they have plenty of grit and oyster shell available.

Routine also matters! Chickens thrive on consistency, so keep your feeding and coop-opening times steady.

☃️ Keep It Cluckin’

Winter doesn’t have to be worrisome — it’s just another season to enjoy your flock in a new light. Watching your hens peck through snow flurries or huddle in their cozy coop is one of the quiet joys of chicken keeping.

With dry bedding, good ventilation, and a little extra TLC, your flock will make it through winter just fine — no worries, just snow worries!