Winter temperatures present a lot of challenges for you and your flock. Falling temperatures mean the possibility of frostbite and other injuries. Cramped winter conditions inside their infrastructure puts your flock at greater risk for respiratory issues. Luckily there are many simple, easy, affordable things you can do to keep your flock healthy this winter and all year long!
Sanitation is key. Cleaning up excessive droppings is one of the most important things you can do for your flock. Whether you’re using spot clean and scoop method or deep bedding method, ensuring your flock has sanitary conditions free excess droppings is essential to maintaining their health during the winter time and all year long. Chicken droppings are 70% moisture or higher. Moist conditions combined with falling temperatures is the primary cause of frostbite. Excess droppings also pose a threat to your flock as unsanitary conditions are the prime breeding ground for the majority of poultry pests and diseases. Take advantage of occasional winter warm ups to do spot cleaning sessions in your chicken area.
Provide appropriate nutrition. Your chickens are domesticated livestock animals and they can’t survive on forage alone, especially in the wintertime when the ground they graze may be entirely inaccessible under snow and ice. I use a combination approach of providing my flock with a complete poultry feed and supplementing with safe kitchen scraps 3 times per week.
Provide grit and calcium supplement. Without access to fresh pasture, chickens greatly benefit from access to inexpensive supplements like grit and calcium in a free choice container separate from their food. If you have the ability to move your chickens on fresh pasture daily then you may not need these supplements. If your chickens live partly or in fulltime confinement or in one stationary area, these supplements are an important part of maintaining their overall health. Grit makes it possible for your chickens to break down and digest their food in order to get the maximum amount of nutrition from it. Grit also helps prevent problems like impacted crop or sour crop. Calcium is essential to strong egg shells and feather regrowth. If your chickens are living in fulltime or mostly in confinement when weather allows you can also dig up a small square of sod as a natural grit source and enrichment item for them. Be sure the grass or any plants you provide for them has not been treated with any yard chemicals because these will harm your flock.
Fermented feed and natural herbs provide a nutrition, immunity, and enrichment boost. Fermenting your chicken feed doubles the volume as well as improves the bioavailability of the nutrients already present in your complete poultry feed. If you’re new to fermenting your chicken feed try a small test batch first to ensure it ferments well. You can also add your own egg shells to your feed mixture. Be sure when feeding egg components of any kind to your chicken to process them with a knife or food processor so they aren’t recognizably egg shaped. Feeding eggs still in egg shape can cause egg eating behavior which is a very undesirable habit. I feed my chickens the shells from their hardboiled eggs that have been boiled in apple cider vinegar and water. I process them in a food processor before adding them to the feed mixture for an extra calcium boost. Natural herbs you already have in your kitchen cabinet like cayenne, basil, rosemary, oregano, mint, and lemon balm can be mixed into your flock’s fermented feed for additional nutrients and other health benefits. If adding herbs to your feed use a small amount to ensure your flock reacts well to the herb and that you don’t inadvertently over-season their food. A teaspoon is a great amount to start with any chicken-safe herb. Not all herbs are safe for chickens. Be sure to do adequate research before supplementing your chicken’s diet with additional herbs or scraps.
Provide ventilation not draft. Many chickens will be spending more time indoors in their infrastructure during the wintertime. Provide areas where fresh air can enter your chicken area above their height so fresh air can come in and stale air can escape. Depending on how harsh winter is in your area it may be advisable to construct temporary winter walls to prevent harsh wind, snow, and precipitation from blowing directly on to your chickens. You can construct temporary winter walls from things like plywood, construction plastic, tarps, or straw bales. Leave a small gap at the top of any walls you construct to allow moisture to escape and to allow fresh air in. Keeping your chickens dry and safe from the elements while still allowing in fresh air will help maintain their respiratory health and their overall health. If it is a safe option for you, you can also allow your chicken’s yard access or free ranging opportunities when the weather cooperates.
Provide enrichment in the form of roosts, ground cover, toys, and treats. Boredom is actually a form of stress for chickens which can detrimentally impact their health and behavior. Bored chickens can behave aggressively towards other flock members, you, and themselves including unwanted behaviors like bullying and feather pecking. Multiple roosting and perching options including things like natural branch roosts, 2x4s, or scrap lumber perching give your flock spacing options and helps them escape the cold ground. Ground cover like pine shavings or course construction sand reduces mud and moisture which contribute to frostbite conditions. A ground cover litter also makes your chicken area easier to clean. Don’t use mulch as a cover litter as it contains sharp edges and harsh dyes that could harm your flock. Toys can be something purchased like a sturdy parrot toy or they can be simple and homemade like vegetables and fruit hung on a sturdy piece of rope or twine for your flock to enjoy. I use a screw with an eyelet hook hung from a string and I pierce the screw into vegetables for my flock to enjoy. Treats like vegetables and chicken safe kitchen scraps provide enrichment, nutrition, and help combat winter boredom.
Spend time with your flock. Bundle up, add on those extra layers, and spend some time with your flock. Even just a few minutes of pleasant interaction daily is a wonderful form of enrichment for your flock. Daily observation is also very important for spotting any emerging or potential health issues within your flock. Daily interaction helps build a bond and positive associations within your flock.
I hope these simple tips were a helpful review for your research about maintaining your chickens’ health during winter conditions. Check out Chuck’s other social media for more backyard chicken and homesteading content.
Chuck and the Chicks 