We like to make our chickens as self-sufficient as possible. While still giving them the comfort of a safe place to live and access to plenty of food and water, our goal is to be able to leave for a few days and not require much (or any) attention from a chicken-sitter. That requires certain systems to be in place.
Winter brings extra challenges to make that possible. These are the things we implement for no-fuss chicken-keeping during Wisconsin’s sub-zero temperatures, ice, and snow.
Double down on bedding.
During warmer months I think of bedding as a buffer to soak up poop and act as a soft landing from the roost bar. This only requires a small layer of pine shavings – about a couple of inches.
In winter it becomes about warmth. We choose not to use a heat lamp in the coop, so insulation from bedding is critical. As temperatures start to dip toward freezing, I buy a fresh bag and make sure it is several inches thick on the floor. As the months go on and the shavings settle and are lost from poop clean-outs, sometimes it is necessary to buy a second to ensure comfort until spring.
Use a heated waterer.
This is key.
The first few months of our first winter were cumbersome. It required trips out to the coop every morning and night to bring and remove water for the day. Besides going against the goal of being hands-off, temperatures were so cold that the water wouldn’t always stay thawed during the day. With both of us working outside of home, the issue weighed heavily on my mind.
Opening a heated waterer for Christmas that year brought tears of joy. Now, as temperatures drop, we run an extension cord from the garden electric outlet through the coop’s vent and connect to the Farm Innovators Heated Poultry Fount. It allows us to keep on the same schedule as the rest of the year – usually re-filling once per week.
Keep the flock small.
Talk about an exercise in self control. This fall, when our house rental season was over, we started letting the chickens free range around the yard during the day. With acres of space and the trio only returning to the coop to sleep, it was easy to think, “What’s the harm in getting a few [or dozen] more?”
The answer: winter was coming. The chickens’ lives in January look much different than those wild and free-roaming days. They fear walking on snow and sometimes avoid leaving the coop for several days at a time. Even when the door to the run is open, they rarely choose to leave and so it often stays closed to preserve heat.
After a few days of being cooped up together there are usually signs of cabin fever. Feathers have flown, someone’s head has been pecked, and the bowl of egg shells and grit is scattered across the floor. Suddenly, it’s hard to imagine there being enough space for even one more. We actually lost a hen the first winter that had never been fully “accepted” into the flock. The close quarters seemed to amplify the problem.
The moral: determine ideal flock size based on the smallest space they may live in together throughout the year. Or, choose to reduce the flock size in anticipation of winter.
Only having a few chickens also allows the food and water refreshing to be less frequent. Of course it also means fewer eggs during a time that production usually slows anyway, but that’s a tradeoff we’re willing to make.
Take advantage of mild days.
Even in Zone 5 there are periods of relief from the winter doldrums. If temperatures warm above freezing and patches of ground emerge, let those feathered friends free!
It may take some coaxing to get them out the door, but once they realize the snow won’t bite, they’ll be oh-so-excited to stretch those little dino legs. Even 10 minutes of feasting on dead grass and weed seeds can make a big difference.
Have a plan for cold spells.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are polar vortexes. In January 2019, dangerous cold set in and for a few days our highs were below zero and lows reached -30 degrees F. The chicken mama in me wanted to bring the poor girls in the house, but the sensible voice (that sounded suspiciously like Brett) said we need to have a plan for when additional warmth is necessary.
It’s important to know the threshold with your current setup before intervention is necessary. For us, that temperature is zero degrees F. On nights with a forecast below zero, we’ll bring in a heat pad and/or heated brooder that was used when they were chicks. It’s rarely been necessary and so far we haven’t lost any members of the flock to overnight cold.
Share your tips!
Do you keep chickens in a cold climate? I’d love to hear your tips and strategies for keeping them safe through winter.
