Chickens are the perfect garden residents. They happily devour table scraps, cheerfully scratch around the garden, and provide delicious eggs. Keeping chickens during the summer months is somewhat easier, but our feathered friends also deserve care during the winter. In this article, we gladly share all our tips and insights, so the chickens can get through the winter worry-free.
Ensure clean and frost-free drinking water
Fresh drinking water is the biggest challenge in winter. Chickens obviously need fresh water every day, and that can be a challenge in cold temperatures. Because chickens have to work harder to maintain their body temperature, they also need more water. The drinking water must always be clean, accessible, and frost-free. So, regularly refresh the drinking water and also clean the drinker or bowl.
Did you know there are special drinker heaters available? If you live in a colder area where it freezes quickly, this can be a very handy tool. Also, choose a plastic drinker instead of a metal one. Metal gets too cold, causing combs and wattles to freeze, with all the consequences that entails. If it doesn't freeze too much, you can also bring the drinkers inside at night. Chickens don't drink when it's dark.
Definitely don't add salt, alcohol, or sugar to the water. It's true that this prevents the water from freezing as quickly, but it obviously has a very negative impact on the chickens' health.
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In this video, Angelo explains everything about the colors that eggs can have. Did you know there are chickens that lay green eggs?
Provide appropriate feed during the winter months
In spring and summer, there's plenty of greenery, and the chickens can better regulate their body temperature, so strengthening isn't really necessary. A chicken's normal body temperature is around 41 to 41.5 °C. However, during the colder months, chickens need to eat more and richer food to maintain this body temperature. So, make sure the feed contains enough carbohydrates and fats. Did you know that dried insects are also an ideal snack?
A suitable coop
It goes without saying that there's less sunlight during the winter months. So, the chickens spend much more time in the coop during winter than in summer. We'd love to share some tips for the coop during the coldest (and often wettest) months of the year.
A small coop isn't a bad idea. Because the space is smaller, it warms up faster, allowing the chickens to maintain their body temperature more easily. Of course, ensure there's enough room for each chicken. The size depends on the breed. Typically, it ranges from 1 to 3 to 4 square meters.
Good ventilation of the night coop is essential during every month of the year. If the coop doesn't ventilate well, it becomes damp more quickly. This gives molds and parasites more opportunity to strike.
Avoid drafts in the night coop. Ventilation is a must, but drafts should be avoided. Cold air can cause chickens to cool down too quickly and become ill.
Ensure a dry environment in the night coop. Flax shavings keep everything dry and act as a small insulating layer.
A sick chicken in the run: what now?
Illness can unfortunately always strike chickens. The chance of a cold is certainly present during the cold and wet months. So be sure to watch for these signals in chickens:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Standing puffed up with fluffed feathers
- Lethargy
Any animal can obviously get sick, but ensure sufficient hygiene. Refresh the drinking water regularly, keep the coop clean, ensure ventilation in the night coop, and provide enough variety in the feed. Consult a veterinarian immediately to get the chicken back on its feet as soon as possible if you notice signs of illness.
Chickens' legs need some extra attention in winter. Regularly check their legs to prevent freezing and treat scaly leg mite if necessary.
Enrichment for chickens
During the winter months, enrichment is also essential for chickens. There's often less space, the ground is often wet and muddy, and foraging is just a bit more challenging than during the warm and dry months of the year.
An important aspect is offering variety and challenge in the run. Chickens are curious creatures and need mental stimulation. Ensure there are plenty of foraging opportunities in the coop and possibly provide a covered area in the run. This keeps the ground dry, allowing chickens to always forage and take a so-called sand bath.
Hang different types of vegetables in the run, so chickens can peck and jump, keeping them active. Carrots and cabbages are ideal for this. Thread pieces of carrot on a piece of string or hang a piece of cabbage in the run. Scatter small insects over the run's floor, like dried mealworms. This protein-rich snack is a real treat for chickens and also provides much-needed energy. The chickens will search and forage enthusiastically.
Finally, provide interesting objects in the run. Create a swing from a sturdy branch, hang a mirror, or make a sand bath. Variations in height and obstacles ensure a fun run that never gets boring. This way, boredom doesn't stand a chance. Is your vegetable or flower garden bare in winter? Chickens can certainly be a help. Let them forage (possibly fenced off) in the vegetable garden or raised beds. The last weed seeds will surely be devoured.
