Though backyard chickens are much more equipped to handle the frigidness of winter compared to the oppressive heat of summer, I do like to take a few preventative measures when the temperatures start to drop.  Chickens don’t need a lot of intervention and especially don’t need heat lamps, but a few actions make the winter easier on everyone.

1. Coop Cleaning.  It’s not exciting, but I do think it’s important to give the coop a nice thorough cleaning before heading into the winter months.  Though I give it a good power wash toward the end of the summer, chickens are gross.
2. Predator Proofing.  Right before winter sets in, I give the coop and run a once-over to look for weaknesses.  Predators are especially desperate through the leaner months, so I want to make sure my flock is well protected from any threats.  Predator concerns are the main reason I free range them very little in the winter – the hawks are especially prevalent where we live and it’s simply not worth losing a girl.
3. Extra Coop Bedding. I’m a wood shavings chicken mama, and I like to put an extra thick layer in the coop for the winter.  It offers more insulation and soaks up the wetness of ice or snow when it thaws.  Though I still change the bedding throughout the winter, this spaces out the amount of time in between clean-outs.
4. Water Heater.  Once the temps dip below 32 degree Fahrenheit, freezing water is a serious concern.  I’ve tried lots of ways to keep the water from freezing, but my favorite is a heated drinker base.  We are going on four seasons now with the same base from Harris Farms, so it has been well worth the initial investment.  I still check the waterer every day, but the base gives me such peace of mind knowing that my girls are cared for.
5. Straw. Once we start getting into the low 20s and teens, or are getting snow, I like to lay down some straw in the run to get their little feet up off the freezing ground.  It also given my flock something to scratch and keeps them busy.  Straw bales can also be stacked up around the coop to insulate from bitter winds and offer some extra warmth.
6. Plastic Sheeting. I wait to cover the run in plastic until it starts getting really cold, or again, until we’re going to get snow.  I staple the plastic sheeting (THIS ONE) to the wood planks on the roof of the run, and then weigh it down on the ground with whatever I can find, usually long pieces of wood or even railroad ties left behind from the previous owner.  I usually cover about 2 1/2 sides, leaving some of the run exposed to the elements to allow for airflow.  That’s important because the run gets super nasty and gross if it’s all covered (ask me how I know).  The plastic is also important, though, because it cuts down on wind and keeps snow out, making the run actually quite pleasant!
7. Scratch.  I like to throw supplemental scratch down in the run in the afternoon before it’s going to get especially cold at night.  It helps warm my flock through the coldest hours and keeps them occupied trying to forage it through the straw.  I really love Scratch & Peck because it’s organic, but anything will work!
8. Warm Oatmeal Breakfasts.  On the coldest mornings, like low teens to single digits, I take oatmeal out to the girls for breakfast to warm them up.  Is it necessary?  No.  But the chickens love it and it’s a great source of nutrients.  I use the method from Fresh Eggs Daily, pouring boiling water over organic rolled oats in a 9×13 or 8×8 glass dish, and adding cinnamon with organic blueberries or whatever other add-ins I can find.
9. Greens.  Supplementing with fresh greens a few times a week offers some extra nourishment to my chickens.  Because I don’t free range them through the winter very much (the predator issue is real), it’s my way of replacing the fresh grass and weeds they normally forage.
10. Watch for Frostbite.  Chicken combs and wattles are usually the first to show signs of frostbite, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them. Some chicken keepers preemptively massage petroleum jelly onto combs and wattles to prevent frostbite, but I’m not excited about the Think Dirty rating.  If I’m going to do that, I prefer to use a gentle, natural salve like Earthley’s All Natural Salve.  It has to get pretty darn cold for me to go to this extreme though, and it has to be done at night when I can pick each bird off the roast without them protesting.

My experience is that keeping chickens in the winter is relatively easy, especially with a few preventative measures.  I don’t worry much at all until the temperatures get much colder, maybe less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit.  And even then, I remind myself that chickens have been living through winters for thousands of years without the niceties of modern interventions!