Before we know it, winter will be here, so now is the time to start planning and winterizing your chicken coop.
We live in cold area, so it is not unusual for us to reach -30 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind chill. Even if you don’t live in an area that is quite that cold you should make your coop ready for the winter weather.
-1 Create Wind blocks
You want your chickens to be able to get out of the wind and cold, so by putting up wind blocks your flock will be warm and happy. You can use trees, bushes or panels depending on how cold and windy your area is. We like to put up corrugated panels all around their run, but if you use the panels then you will need to leave a spot open for air flow.
-2 Use The Deep Litter Method
The deep litter method is great to use in the winter because it acts as extra insulation in your coop! If you would like to learn more about the deep litter method then check out this article here.
-3 Add Ventilation
Ventilation is not to be confused with drafts. Drafts are areas where the cold air is near the floor of the coop, these you will want to cover. Ventilation is usually windows or vents above the roosting bars and towards the top of the coop. You might be thinking that adding vents would defeat the purpose of keeping your chickens warm, but actually it does the opposite. If your coop is not well ventilated then the moisture from their poop has no way to escape, and if you have moisture in the coop your chickens will get frostbite.
-4 Provide Heat
If you live in area that rarely gets below 20 degrees Fahrenheit then you most likely won’t need to provide them any heat, but since we live in a super cold area we use a safe radiant heating panel. If you choose to provide your chickens with heat, please do not use a heat lamp or any other heat source that could be a potential fire hazard.
-5 Keep Food And Water Out Of The Coop
I don’t know how your coop is set up but ours has a run, and then a separate area for them to sleep in. It is fine to keep the food and water in the run, but not in the coop. I know that when it is cold it might be tempting to give them their food and water in the coop, but trust me, if they are thirsty and hungry they will go down to their run and get it.
The 1912 Homestead 