Keeping chickens in winter – what you should pay attention to!

Winter is coming, temperatures are dropping, and the days are getting darker. Just like with us humans, this can also affect your chickens' mood. They love the long summer days, the mild temperatures, and the hours of pecking in the run.

To keep your chickens happy during the winter, you can offer them plenty of activities to keep the winter blues at bay – and, most importantly, to ensure they stay healthy during the cold months. Here are some tips on food, light, water, and dust baths.

How do I keep my chickens busy in winter?

Unfortunately, your chickens usually have to go without a run during the winter. Here's how to prepare the chicken coop for winter at the start of the cold season and insulate it against icy temperatures. You can find out more here. When it gets cold, the hens have to make do with very little exercise in the cramped coop. However, there are very simple ways to prevent boredom or potentially aggressive behavior.

Dust bath with Cumbasil Mite against bad mood

Chickens love to brood. This natural behavior is not only fun, it's also extremely important for hygiene. Thanks to the dust bath, mites and parasites have little chance.

Do you allow your chickens to have sand baths in spring and summer? Then they shouldn't have to go without them in winter either. Offer them the chemical-free mineral powder Cumbasil Mite during the cold season, too. to!

Give them about four weeks the first time. To help them accept the dust bath, mix in one-fifth of potting soil. You'll soon notice your hens enjoying it.

Feeders and feeding toys for your chickens

In addition to sand baths, you can also provide your chickens with other activities. Since chickens love to forage, these are great options.

If the temperatures aren't too frosty, you can hang fruit or vegetables from a rope or thread. Or you can skewer apples, carrots, lettuce heads, etc., on wooden branches. This forces the hens to work to get their food, and their natural ambition is awakened.

A hanging feeder is another option for hanging a mixed grain. The hanging mechanism also makes it more hygienic than a food bowl!

If you add mealworms from a specialist retailer to their grain feed, your chickens will be thrilled, because finding a worm is even closer to naturally pecking in the open air. A pile of autumn leaves with hidden worms is also a great activity!

Movement in the chicken coop

Depending on the size of your chicken coop, you can also get creative with chicken activities. Can you build an obstacle course out of wooden poles and boards? Wooden branches from the garden or forest are also suitable for creating obstacles for exploration and climbing. This is especially beneficial for more active breeds.

How to keep your chickens healthy in winter

The good news first: In general, chickens tolerate cold (but dry) weather well.

However, the age and health of your animals influence their heat needs and must be assessed individually. The same applies to the size of their comb and wattles, as these can freeze in icy temperatures. Apply a greasy cream or petroleum jelly to prevent frostbite.

Your hens' feet can also suffer from frostbite. Feather-feathered breeds, such as Cochins, Silkies, or Brahmas, should definitely not walk through snow, as their feet are prone to frostbite injuries.

Especially in snowy and humid conditions, and at temperatures well below freezing, you should close off the run as a precaution. Pay particular attention to the health and well-being of your chickens in terms of feed, hygiene and mite pressure, water, and adequate insulation.

Avoid sub-zero temperatures in the chicken coop

The first step against freezing winter temperatures in the chicken coop is good floor insulation, which prevents the cold from rising from the ground. If you can't insulate the floor sufficiently, consider a waterer heater to ensure your chickens always have access to drinking water.

You can find further tips for winterizing and insulating your chicken coop in our article on “ Winterizing your chicken coop .”

Check the location of the chicken coop: If the coop can be transported, you can move it to a sheltered location, such as close to the house or perhaps even under cover on the patio. This will reduce the exposure to the cold and retain heat better. Tip: If it gets bitterly cold, the basement is also a good temporary solution.

Increased calorie needs: What feed should chickens give in winter?

Pay particular attention to a high-calorie diet in winter to ensure your hens always have sufficient energy supplies. All chicken breeds originate from tropical regions of the world. Therefore, their feathers are only partially suitable for keeping your chickens warm in subzero temperatures – this also applies to breeds with supposedly dense feathers.

In addition, chickens metabolize their food within a few hours. After all, they prefer to peck in their run all day long! When they also have to warm up their bodies from the inside in freezing temperatures, their metabolism runs at a rapid pace.

Feed particularly high-energy feeds during the winter. Oatmeal, raisins, walnuts and other nuts, grains, corn, and egg whites are examples of foods rich in fat and oil. This way, the hens consume more calories. Nutrients and vitamins (e.g., vitamin D) are also particularly important during the cold season to prevent deficiencies.

Green fodder is only recommended in winter if it can't freeze. Therefore, you should only feed it if the chickens will eat it immediately. This will prevent digestive problems caused by frozen feed.

Your chickens should have access to fresh drinking water at all times, year-round! Therefore, make sure the water doesn't freeze in winter – if necessary, use a drinker heater.

Do chickens lay eggs in winter?

Your chickens will only lay eggs if there is sufficient light every day. Chickens are night blind and therefore prefer not to move at all in the dark, not even to eat! A lack of light can therefore not only lead to energy deficiencies and thus health problems, but also reduce egg production.

Without light and food, the hens know they are unsafe and don't want to raise offspring. In other words, without sufficient light, hens don't feel safe enough and don't lay eggs.

This is why most chicken breeds begin moulting in the fall. Egg-laying stops, and all energy is devoted to changing their plumage.

If you want your chickens to lay eggs continuously throughout the winter, you should install an artificial light source in the coop. This will easily maintain their health and egg production even in winter.

Make sure the lamp stays on for 12–16 hours. It's best to install a light source with a timer. This will allow the light to turn on and off regularly. A dimmer switch is perfect for simulating dawn and dusk. This will keep your chickens comfortable even in winter.

By the way: There are also differences between breeds when it comes to egg-laying in winter. So-called winter layers, such as Brahma chickens, Sundheimer chickens, Plymouth Rock chickens, and Lachs chickens, lay eggs reliably year-round.