Winter is certainly not my flock's favorite season. The snow is too cold. The grass is dead. There are no bugs.

Actually, it's just downright freezing! Cold can be very bad for chickens - it can result in frostbite, or the waterer might freeze, or it could be super wet and windy.

Here are some tips for all that and more - for ducks, chickens, and other poultry!

Water:

I use a heated dog water bowl, but there are also heated rabbit waterers that work quite well. Another option could be a heated base, such as this one. If you can't plug anything in, try using a large black tub placed in the sun and float some ping pong balls on top. Check this link out here for more: https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2013/10/five-easy-ways-to-keep-your-chickens.html

Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com

Exposure:

Puddles of water and drifts of snow kinda defeat the purpose of a covered run. And high winds? My chickens stay in all day when the weather's like that! One thing that works really well is using a plastic drop cloth (you can find it in a roll like giant saranwrap). Zip tie it around the outside of the run area to block the elements (just make sure they don't eat it). I wouldn't recommend placing it over the top, as rain and snow may cause it to sag and drop. However, you can generally find cheap corrugated plastic sheeting for the roof if needed. If your coop has lots of ventilation, you can cover up some gaps to keep the heat in - just don't block all airflow.

Frostbite:

Chickens, especially roosters, are prone to frostbite on their large combs and wattles. While many people recommend Vaseline for frostbite, this can actually increase the risk. Instead, follow some of these steps from this article, especially if you live in an area where it is regularly below 25 at this time of year. Extra pine shavings to burrow in and extra food rations will go a long way in keeping your flock warm and healthy during the winter.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Boredom

In the winter, there are no bugs to eat, grass to scratch in, or holes to dig. For chickens, all the fun activities are buried under drifts of snow. Bored chickens may turn to pecking each other or develop bad behaviors such as egg eating and ripping up the wire on the coop. Fortunately, there are many things you can do for your flock to make winter more interesting. Try activities like these here, or throw some veggies in the blender for a boredom-busting smoothie treat.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you back soon!

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