Get Almanac's Daily Updates Extended Forecasts Where to Buy Contact Us

Keeping Chickens Happy in the Snow

Chickens in snow

Free range chickens jostle for a position in the sun on a cold winter’s day with snow on the ground.

Photo Credit
Harry Green/Shutterstock

Taking Care of Chickens in Winter

Written By: Celeste Longacre Gardener & Astrologer

Chickens usually enjoy going outside during the day, but many breeds of chickens are not exactly fond of snow (just like people!). In places where the snow does fly, this requires a bit of planning on the part of the chicken farmer. See tips for keeping chickens happy during the winter months!

Chickens enjoy scratching the ground looking for bugs and worms, stretching out and sunbathing in the Sun’s rays as well as digging deep dirt holes so that they can dust bathe in them. They emerge from their baths completely covered with dirt and create a huge dust cloud around themselves as they shake it off. It’s quite hilarious to watch!

Read Next

But once the white stuff has hit the ground, you open their door and the first foot that goes out may come right back in. Some chickens would prefer to spend the entire winter indoors for this reason (Perhaps that’s where the saying “cooped up” comes from).

Last winter, it began snowing the day after Christmas and continued every three days for about six weeks. These were big, powerful storms that often took a couple of days to clean up. No sooner would we have all the paths and driveway clear, then it would snow again. It was exhausting!

During these snowstorms, my chickens looked out and decided to pass on the exit plan. I gave the girls something to chew on (pumpkin, squashes, or sunflower seeds) so that they don’t decide to chew on each other. Sometimes, I will hang a cabbage from a roost for them to peck on—for the same reason.


Then I got out my shovel, dusted it off, sprayed it with cheap non-stick cooking spray and went to work (I keep the shovel in an outbuilding so that it stays cold).

With the shovel, I pushed the snow off of their ramp. The path to the coop was next and, when I was sure that the snow was done, I cleared a courtyard for the hens so they wouldn’t feel hemmed in. Our chickens can get under their coop, so I make their yard clear enough so that they can then get under it. Then, I put down some fresh hay or leaves.

The girls love to poke through this stuff and it entices them outside. The hay keeps their feet dry and hay generally contains some seeds that they like to nibble at as well. 

I think it’s healthier for the chicks to keep going outside. They won’t get any vitamin D in their eggs if they stay inside and the coop gets dirtier and dustier.

If we get a dusting of snow on top of the hay, I just lift up the hay over the snow. This way, the girls continue to go outside and are generally much happier than just being “cooped up.” Once again, happy chickens!

Related Content

Check out our Raising Chickens series for more information on keeping chickens happy and healthy:

Chickens
About The Author
Celeste Longacre

Celeste Longacre

Gardener & Astrologer

Celeste Longacre has been growing virtually all of her family’s vegetables for the entire year for over 30 years. She cans, she freezes, she dries, she ferments, and she root cellars. She also has chi...
Read More from Celeste Longacre

More Like This

Comments

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/celeste-longacre">Celeste Longacre</a> Wed, 01/29/2014 - 09:57

Hi Jodi,

Thanks for your kind comments!

 <span>Leog</span> Tue, 01/28/2014 - 14:52
How are the chickens producing Vitamin D from sunlight?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/celeste-longacre">Celeste Longacre</a> Tue, 01/28/2014 - 16:40

Hi LeoG,

Yes, all animals (including us) do convert sunshine into vitamin D.

 <span>Animal Magnet</span> Tue, 01/28/2014 - 16:08
Animals (including man) naturally convert solar energy into Vitamin D. That's why it's so important to be in the sun (while protecting yourself from the sun's harmful rays).
<span>Chick Mama</span> Tue, 01/28/2014 - 12:38
My chickens do well in the winter. They know when they need to go in the coop. I usually just make sure that they have extra food , unfrozen water and extra hay. They do well in the winter. They don't lay as much as they do in the warmer months. They are fun to keep and teach little ones responsibility to care for animals. They get lots of treats, and when I go to feel them one of them gets a treat by getting to be tucked in my jacket.:-)
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/celeste-longacre">Celeste Longacre</a> Tue, 01/28/2014 - 14:04

Hi Chick Mama,

I agree that chickens are fun to keep and a good way to teach little ones about responsibility and how to care for animals.

 <span>Donna Estepp</span> Sat, 01/25/2014 - 23:43
I'm wondering if it's necessary to keep the chickens warm in winter. It worries me to no end that they are cold especially when it gets down in the "teens". I was thinking about putting one of those little heaters in the coop for them. What should I do? Thank you
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/celeste-longacre">Celeste Longacre</a> Sun, 01/26/2014 - 09:28

Hi Donna,

Chickens actually have a harder time with the heat than with the cold. They are birds, after all, and can fluff up. I don't usually worry about my chickens until it gets significantly below zero.

 <span>Potsonna</span> Tue, 01/21/2014 - 11:17
Interesting! I hope that everyone's weekend was both great and safe,had a nice weekend,having a good week and has another good weekend,plus I also hope that they had a nice MLK Day! That goes for last year and all the other years that I've missed. I'm sorry,but it slipped my mind.
<span>Angie Gentley</span> Tue, 01/21/2014 - 08:54
Great ideas in your post, Celeste, thank you! Our biddies love their enlarged coop for winter; it has access to an outside pen through a small opening, the plastic sheet hangs in place like a doggie door. They love to get out on the warm days. They also appreciate an extra thick layer of wood shavings to nest and bury their eggs in.