Winter

My husband and I have been raising chickens in Western New York, where the winter temperatures consistently drop well below zero. We see harsh winds, nor’easters and plenty of piled up snow and ice. Over the years we’ve found several unique ways to winterize the chicken coop to ensure our birds will make it through …

If you live in a cold climate and are considering raising chickens, you’re going to need to get cold hardy chicken breeds to ensure the success of your flock. Many chicken breeds are bred specifically for their ability to withstand and even thrive in cold temperatures. The best cold hardy chicken breeds are those with small …

One of the biggest challenges with raising chickens in the winter is how to keep chicken water from freezing. Learn our tips to manage frozen water (even without a heated chicken waterer!) Caring for chickens in winter is more challenging than raising them in other seasons. Plummeting temperatures create a whole host of problems with your …

Should you add heat in the chicken coop? This is one of the most common question asked about raising chickens in winter. Learn why heating the coop isn’t safe. The short answer is a resounding, “No,” unless you live somewhere that sees extremely brutal winters. We have been raising chickens in Western New York, which …

“Are my chickens cold?”  Concern over whether it’s too cold for chickens is, hands down, the most frequent question we get asked about winter chicken care, especially from new keepers living in cold climates. A lot of people who are curious about raising chickens can’t imagine leaving them outside in their unheated coop in the dead of …

We’re often asked how to go about keeping chickens warm in winter, when the temps drop and the snow starts to fly. The truth is that raising chickens in the winter is very easy. They only need a few accommodations to be healthy and happy in the colder months. Chickens natural physiology combined with several …