Winterizing a Chicken Coop

Chickens can provide much of their own heat, but if you live in a harsh climate, you’re going to need to make some winter preparations to keep your flock comfortable in the coming months. Here are a few things you can do to keep the cold at bay:

Insulate your chicken coop:

Whether you built from plans or purchased a ready-to-use chicken coop online, you need to make sure it’s insulated.  Simple cardboard around the outside of the coop might be enough, or you may need to go further with foam or fiberglass. Be sure the chickens can’t get into it, though, they’ll make a mess if they start pecking at it. Not to mention what it will do to their health. Don’t forget the floor. Put out extra bedding on the floor and in nesting boxes.  You can use clean hay, straw or wood shavings (not oak) to keep them warm and cut down on drafts.

Seal up any holes:

Not only do you want to keep out the drafts, but you also want to keep any unwanted critters from sneaking in and feasting on your chickens and fresh eggs. Mice, rats and snakes can all squeeze through tiny holes and are looking for a warm place to hang out for the winter.

Provide additional light:

If you’re collecting fresh eggs and don’t want production to drop off, be sure to provide extra light on a timer. Chickens need 14 hours of daylight for optimal egg laying. Set the timer to go light up (and heat up) the coop before dawn. And be sure to set the lights to go down when the sun is up. You don’t want to pay for extra light you don’t need.

Watch out for frost-bite:

Chickens are prone to frostbite anywhere they have exposed skin. You can protect their delicate feet, legs and combs with a thick layer of petroleum jelly, like Vaseline. If you notice bits of skin turning black after a significant cold spell, it’s likely they’ve been “bitten.”

Use heaters to keep water from freezing:

Unless you plan to haul out fresh water every few hours, it’s best to hook up a water heater. Remember to keep all cords and electrical parts out of the way to prevent harm.

If you have a mobile chicken coop or chicken tractor, now is a good time to move the coop closer to your house. That way when the heavy snow flies, you have a shorter distance to shovel out.

Your best bet is to have with a well-built chicken house to start with. Then winterizing is as easy as closing up the windows and doors and setting the light timer.