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How do I keep my chickens from freezing in the winter?
To heat or not to heat, that is the question! People that are new to raising backyard chickens often ask if they need to heat their coop?
We live in Ontario, Canada. The winter weather can get extremely cold. Like I’m talking -20 to -30 degrees C or colder. Add the wind-chill, and it feels even colder.
How do you keep chickens warm in a Canadian winter?
When we built our chicken coop we wanted to be certain that it would withstand cold Canadian winters and keep our girls (chickens) safe, healthy and warm all winter long.
Ventilation is key!
Ventilation is so important for the health of your chickens. Proper ventilation helps with the overall airflow within the coop. Ensuring proper ventilation is key in preventing moisture build up within the coop. Moisture in the coop can lead to frostbite, which is something you don’t want for your chickens.
We have windows all along the top our coop. During the spring, summer and fall we keep the windows open at all times. During the winter months we do close some of the windows at night time. This allows the coop to stay warm during those cold winter nights when the temperatures drop well below freezing. During the day the main door of the coop stays open which will allow the air to circulate throughout the coop.
Do chickens need a heater in the winter?
Our coop is insulted but we don’t heat our coop. Our chickens are called Red Sex Link chickens. They are very hardy birds and tolerate our cold Canadian winters quite well.
If you decide to heat your coop, be certain you have a back up heat source or a generator. Once your chickens become accustomed to a certain temperature, if there is a power outage you have to continue to maintain the coop temperature. During the winter months we often have power outages. It’s not practical for us to have a secondary heat source for our chickens.
Another reason I’m not a fan of heating our chicken coop is the fire hazard associated with heat lamps and heaters. If you decide to place any type of heat source in your coop be sure to secure it properly. This will prevent the heater from falling into the chickens bedding and starting a fire.
Is the size of the coop important during the winter?
Our chicken coop is not huge by any means. It’s big enough for approximately 10 full sized chickens. Having a coop suitable for your flock will help to maintain the temperature in the coop. Chickens produce body heat which in turn helps to keep the coop significantly warmer inside compared to the outdoor temperatures.
Be certain to place any roosting bars in areas where there are no drafts or windows. Our chickens often all try to squeeze together on the same roosting bar. This also helps them to stay warm.
To see our coop design and get more of a visual, check out the video.
Have you heard of the deep litter method?
The bottom of our chicken coop has a piece of vinyl flooring. Our girls didn’t care what colour it was so just grab whatever! This has made cleaning so much easier.
From January to April each year, we only remove large pieces of chicken poop as we are able. We then just layer fresh shavings on top of the old shavings. Layering your coop with clean shavings or bedding is called the deep litter method. The manure helps to produce additional heat in the coop and keeps the chickens warm.
What should I feed my chickens in the winter?
During the winter months your chickens will require additional food as they will utilize more energy to stay warm. We feed our chickens things like sunflower seeds, meal worms and even warm oatmeal in addition to their layer crumb and scratch.
It’s important to add additional sources of protein to your chickens diet during the winter months. They don’t have access to the same worms and bugs when snow is on the ground. You can also consult with your local feed store to see what type of feed they suggest during the winter months.
How can you stop your chickens water from freezing in the winter?
Even during the winter months it’s essential for your chickens to have access to fresh water. We have a heated base that our water bucket sits on to prevent the water from freezing. Here is the link to the Universal Water Deicer we use for our girls water bucket.
As I mentioned earlier, you need to be aware of potential fire hazards. I placed a patio stone on the floor of the coop and then placed the heater on top of the stone. I always make sure there are no shavings around the base of the heater.
This heater does not prevent water from freezing if the temperatures get extremely cold but it certainly helps. During the frigid cold temperatures we change the water buckets morning and night to be certain the chickens always have fresh water.
Are your chickens losing feathers?
Have you noticed that one of your chickens or maybe quite a few of your chickens are losing a lot of feathers? Check out my blog post ‘Why is my chicken losing so many feathers‘. These poor chickens look quite sickly when this process occurs but this article will help you to understand why this is a natural and healthy process.
When raising animals it’s important to do your own research and make decisions that are best for your animals. You will always find so many different opinions and suggestions when researching online. Make decisions that you feel good about. At the end of the day these animals belong to you.
Comment Below
Are you new to raising chickens? Will this be your first winter caring for your backyard flock? Comment below and let me know if you have any other questions. I would love to help you.
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