How to Care for Chickens in the Winter

Winter is here and like preparing everything else for the winter months, it is also important to plan ahead when caring for animals in the winter. In this post, I will discuss a few simple checkpoints on how to care for your chickens in the winter.

We have had our own backyard chickens for about 3 years now. This fall we built our chickens a new chicken house for them to have more room. When it comes to our chickens, I love saying the expression "If you take care of them, they will take care of you," as we usually get several dozen eggs each week from our chickens. We definitely enjoy using fresh farm eggs for our meals, cooking, and baking. Chickens are pretty easy to care for, but you also might be interested in knowing some extra tips for how to care for them in the winter months. They are pretty hearty birds and can handle cooler temperatures if provided adequate necessities in those cooler winter months.

Provide a strong wind barrier. By providing a chicken coop or chicken house for the chickens will help the chickens stay warm and out of the wind. Each fall we check over the chicken house, winterize it, and make sure its not drafty for the chickens.

Fresh water. Chickens need a good amount of water to produce eggs. Since it is likely that the water will freeze in the winter time, you might invest in a heated water pan or also be sure to provide fresh water to the chickens a few times a day. Chickens can often make a mess out of their water pan, so I would suggest not leaving it in the area of the chicken house where it would wet the bedding. Maybe keep water pan outside or in an area with less traffic. Keep extra waterers on hand incase you need to switch out ones that have frozen over.

Provide protein rich feed. Added nutrients will be valuable for the chickens during the cooler winter months. This will give them extra energy and help them stay warm as well.

Good ventilation. During the cooler temperatures, chickens like to crowd together to stay warm. Moisture should not be able to accumulate and freeze. Good ventilation will help keep the chicken house dry and also prevent sickness in the chickens.

Provide good bedding.  Use straw or shavings to keep the chicken coop floor dry and comfortable for the chickens to live in. Changing the bedding frequently will also help keep the chicken coop dry maintaining a healthy chicken coop.

Use a heat lamp. Adding a supplemental heat source will help prolong egg laying. Once the chickens are all nestled together they provide their own heat source with their bodies that is adequate for the cooler temperatures. A heat lamp isn't necessary, but they are often used. Use with caution.

Check chicken nests often.  If your chickens are laying well, you will still want to check their nests often to be sure you gather eggs often. This will prevent the egg from freezing.


A few simple steps during the winter months will help your chickens remain healthy and stay happy chickens.

My Story in Agriculture

I have attended several conferences and workshops this year and among several things I take away from each of them, a phrase stuck out that was common between  - Share your story....so here is mine. 

So many of my early memories are involved in agriculture. From riding in the combine during harvest, to helping plant the garden, picking pumpkins to carve in the Fall, to doing chores and cleaning the horse stalls on the weekends. Even all the way down to playing tractors in the sandbox with my brother, one way or another, agriculture has always been a part of my life. 

My grandma helping little me get out of the combine from riding with my dad

I can remember going to feed the cows with my grandpa and dad some mornings before getting on the bus to head to school.  My brother and I did the horse chores every day before and after school as we got older. Pajama, boots, and our Carhart bibs were the attire as we woke up extra early on the winter mornings to make sure we had time to break the ice in the water troughs, or to get the chores done before we headed off to morning swim team practice. During planting and harvest, if we weren't riding along in the field, taking dinner to the field and catching a ride was something we looked forward too. We were also the kids at the top of the hay wagon tossing down those very top bales when unloading into the barn. SO many memories revolved around daily life in agriculture. 

Our school system has a strong FFA program and I was first introduced to it in 8th grade and I remember at that point is when I knew I wanted to be involved in agriculture as a career. That is when I decided I wanted to learn more about horticulture. Then in high school, I got involved in my FFA chapter and was on several judging teams. My interest grew even more for horticulture. Here is where I decided I wanted to attend college for Landscape Horticulture and Design. At this time, I also knew I wanted to marry a farmer/someone with the same kind of background as I had, and here is when I met just that person. 

The college years went by and I married that farmer, my high school sweetheart. I graduated college with a BS in Landscape Horticulture and Design with a minor in Food and Agribusiness Management. I worked a few different jobs that I loved in the horticulture industry, but currently am a work at home mom where I have my own creative sewing business and also work part time for a wedding planner, help manage our produce farm, and take care of our 3 children. My farmer and I grow produce and pumpkins for 9 years now. We have a small CSA program that we offer in our community and we are vendors at a few local farmers markets. 

One of our past CSA shares

I have always had a respect and appreciation for agriculture, but here in my adult life and being a mom is where I REALLY have a LOVE for agriculture. I have always helped on my family's farm in so many ways, but these last few years, I have really gotten to help more first hand. Being in the tractor and helping my dad and brother with hay and planting/harvest was how I spent so much time and made me love it even more. I appreciate helping them as much as they appreciate me helping them. 

Auger Cart duty :)

Scott and I  - pumpkin season 2011

 Agriculture isn't just a career, it is truly a way of life! I am proud that my husband and I share a love for agriculture! He knows so much history about the area we live and grow up in and shares that with me and our children. I love that he grew up with a family very involved in agriculture as well and helps on the family farm. I love that we have the same love for agriculture. I am proud that my children are growing up directly involved with agriculture by being part of the planting and harvesting process, baling hay, and growing produce. They are seeing first hand where food comes from. They help us plant the seeds, maintain and care for the plants, and pick the produce to take to market and bring to our table. I am proud that I am able to help my dad and brother in the field as well. We are able to teach our children the value of hard work and the rewards that come from working hard. But also teach them the hardships from loosing crops or animals. There is so much they can take away from growing up on the farm and maybe one day coming back to farm themselves. I love that they are getting the same experiences I did. Agriculture makes me PROUD. We live it, learn more, advocate, and share our story. 

One of our little garden helpers snacking on peas

 Agriculture is all around us, everywhere in our economy, community, and daily lives. It's important to tell our story and share with others. So on National Ag Day, here is my story! I can't wait to continue it for many years to come! Be sure to tell and share yours.