Taking care of your chickens during the winter months should not be stressful. Learn about nutrition, keeping your flock warm and how to keep your ladies producing in the winter.
During the cold months your chickens will consume more feed than normal, about 25% more. Increasing carbohydrates in the food, such as cracked corn will keep your birds warm. Spike has cracked corn that is bagged locally at our mill in Delano! Also, make sure to provide free-choice grit, 24/7 (Grit is needed for their gizzard for digestion). Make sure they always have frsh water. Treats are always a bonus. Our favorites are Mealworms, Suet and Black Oil Sunflower Seeds.
During the winter we suggest using the deep litter method, which means not cleaning the coop and letting their droppings provide heat and insulation to keep them warm. Save cleaning the coop for the spring! You can always add Standlee Flock Fresh for bedding and PDZ Coop Refresher for odor control. Chickens are hearty and produce a good amount of body heat. Adding additional heat is not necessary, as long as they have adequate space to perch and are able to fluff their feathers over their feet, they will stay toasty and warm!
Egg production is normally reduced in the winter due to shorter days and the cold. Hens need about 14 hours of daylight a day