Winter Tips for Chicken Keepers

Old Man winter is coming back! Though some breeds of chickens are cold hardy, they still need some help to face the cold temps and snow! Chickens can get colds too!

Chickens At Risk for Frostbite

all chickens can get frostbite combs and feet, but hens and roosters with big combs are more prone to getting it. Especially roosters, as when they drink water in the winter months their big wattles will sometimes get dipped in the water, making it more likely the will get their wattles frostbitten. To help prevent frostbite, rub coconut oil or bag balm on your chickens combs,  wattles, and feet. Don't be surprised if they start acting weird, like rubbing their combs on the ground, as they are trying to get the icky gooey stuff off! If you do find you have a case of frost bite, don't panic. bring the hen or rooster into your house or warm area. When I had my first case of frostbite I took a warm wash clothe, not hot as you could damage it more, and gently laying it over the infected spot. You should keep your frostbitten chicken in a recovery cage until they are healed and it gets a tad bit warmer outside. 


This is what frostbite looks like, the black is dead tissue damaged from the cold



Keeping frostbitten chickens in a recovery pen with food and water until they heal is a must do, as leaving them alone can lead to serious frostbite and other complications like infection

 

 

 

Small combed chickens are less likely to face frostbite, but it is still a good idea to take precautions especially on those below freezing nights

Warming up the Coop

So if you trying to find ways to warm up your coop, try using warmer bedding materials like straw instead of woodchips, as straw is hallow and holds more heat. You can try the deep litter method also, which is practically just leaving old bedding in the coop, and each day turning it upside down like tilling and adding another layer. As the bottom layer starts to decompose, it releases heat. I have tried this before, but to be honest it didn't work for me! I may try it this year though, and see how it works again(it was my fault, not the deep litter method!) Also, cayenne pepper, as you may know, releases a lot of heat, and it may help heat you coop a bit.


Warming your Chickens up!

Though your chickens have a full coat of feathers, they do get chilly! that's why you may see your hens fluffed up in a ball, with their heads tucked under their wing. This is a reason why, in the winter, they consume more food as their body needs it to help heat the up. You may want to feed they scratch or cracked corn, as some people say that from the chickens digesting it, it releases heat. There has been debate if that is true, but I still do it. Another thing that may help your chickens deal with the frosty wind is to build them a lean-to, or just a place in the run where they can be outside in the sun but not in the freezing wind.


Winter Boredom

Winter treats break boredom

This is very common in chickens as their isn't much fun in playing in the snow for them. Fun ideas you can do like getting a treat ball, I found mine at Tractor Supply, and filling it up with scratch, and giving it to your flock! They truly love it, and it brings enjoyment to anyone watching them play with it, pecking and kicking to get the treats out! Another fun snack in the winter is herbal tea, just steeped herbs in water, and gave to your flock not hot but warm.

 Shoveling a small area for your chickens so that they don't have to walk through high snow is     another thing to help them out!
 

With some of these small tips, it may just brighten your flocks day in the cold winter!