Cold Feather Forecast: Warm Up Your Coop For Winter!

Cold Feather Forecast: Warm Up Your Coop For Winter! 

It’s officially autumn, and backyard chicken keepers across the Northern Hemisphere are already preparing for winter weather.  

If you haven’t started yet, or don’t know where to begin, don’t worry! The best time is now, before temperatures begin to drop, and in this blog, our EGGsperts will guide you through the process.  

The good news is that your chickens are naturally cold-hardy (some breeds more than others), but proper preparation, and the right tools, will ensure the whole flock remains healthy, comfortable, and productive throughout the colder months.  

Step 1: Eliminate Drafts & Enhance Ventilation  

In order for your chickens to stay warm, your chicken coop must be draft-free from floor to roost and well-ventilated at the top.  

📌 Check your coop walls, doors, and windows for gaps or cracks that could let drafts in, and repair them before winter weather sets in. Chickens have a hard time regulating their body temperatures when exposed to cold drafts.  

📌 Check the eaves and roof line of your coop to ensure adequate ventilation. Chickens produce a lot of body heat, and without proper ventilation this heat causes moisture build up in the coop, which is one of the leading causes of frostbite in chickens. 

Step 2: Ensure Access to Fresh, Unfrozen Water 

With winter approaching, one thing is for sure: ice is coming for your chicken waterers!  Freezing temperatures complicate your chicken care routine and can be dangerous for your flock.  

Access to fresh, unfrozen water is the #1 winter essential for chickens and other poultry. Dehydration can lead to health issues, reduced egg production, and decreased cold tolerance.  

You can add extra watering stations, you can try hacks like dropping ping pong balls into your waterers to disrupt the formation of ice, or you can place your waterers in a sunny spot. While these approaches are functional, they will require you to check and refresh waterers multiple times each day. The easiest and most reliable solution for ensuring your flock has fresh, unfrozen water throughout the winter is a heated waterer. 

We use and recommend our Thermo Bucket Belt and our Heated Poultry Drinker!  

New this year – we have two sizes available: 

The Small Thermo Bucket Belt for our 1 Gallon and 2 Gallon Tall Waterers. 

The Large Thermo Bucket Belt for our 2 Gallon and 5 Gallon Bucket Waterers.  

energy-efficient, cost-saving, automatic on/off, superior windchill protection, tested and proven down to –10 degrees F, included insulated cover, weather-proof, reusable/repositionable, safe to touch 

Chicken challenges? RentACoop has a solution! 

🐔🐓🥚❄️☃️♨️☀️🧊🏆🥇🐐✨ 
 

Product Spotlight 🐓 
RentACoop 2L Heated Poultry Drinker 

• Holds 2 liters of fresh water, ideal for smaller flocks or coops, or as a supplemental watering station.  

• Insulated cover for superior windchill protection 

• Horizontal Nipples are guaranteed not to freeze if the waterer is unfrozen and keep wattles dry, reducing risk of frostbite.  

🌟 10/10 Would Recommend! 🌟 

If you only add ONE tool to your winter chicken care routine this year, make it a Heated Waterer from RentACoop! 

Step 3: Keep A Cozy Coop  

A well-prepared coop provides comfort and safety. You’ll thank yourself later for considering these essentials now: 

• Bedding: Choose a bedding that will last throughout the winter and keep your coop dry and warm, and your chickens cozy and healthy. We use and recommend our own ultra absorbent, premium Hemp Bedding.  

• Consider using the deep litter method, which requires minimal maintenance and allows bedding to accumulate and compost naturally, generating warmth. Whether you try the deep litter method, or you prefer a style that requires more frequent coop clean outs, our premium Hemp Bedding is an ideal choice.  

• Roosts: If you don’t already have roosting bars in your coop, now is the time to install elevated roosts, which keep chickens clean and off the cold ground. Roosting bars also allow chickens to rest in a healthy, natural position.  

• Insulation: You may want to add some light insulation or wind barriers where needed, but it’s important to avoid sealing off the coop. A coop that lacks proper ventilation will cause humidity to build up from the chickens’ body heat, which can lead to damp, dangerous conditions.  

• Heat Sources: Avoid space heaters and heat lamps, which can pose a risk of fire, and are completely unnecessary in most cases.  

Step 4: Be Mindful About Nutrition and Enrichment 

Chickens generate heat through digestion, so it’s important to keep their appetites up and their nutrition on point throughout the winter. Keep feeders full and the feed dry and accessible. You can also use supplemental protein sources, especially for birds who are molting.  

Tip – Offering a small amount of scratch grains in the evening helps keep birds warm overnight as they metabolize the extra energy. 

!! (hydration is vital for appetite and metabolic processes) 

Winter means shorter days, more time indoors, and less stimulation for our chickens. This can cause boredom and bullying in the flock. To keep your chickens entertained and support their overall health, make sure to provide plenty of enrichment options.  

Uncut vegetables can be skewered and hung from the ceiling. 

We use and recommend our Treat Dispensers, which can be filled with scratch, feed, or dried bugs.  

Offer your flock an opportunity for foraging – some extra free-range time or a whole hay bale for them to spread. Bonus if you sprinkle treats throughout!   

Step 5: Watch Your Flock (Like a Hawk!) 

Sorry – we don’t like being compared to that particular predator either, but we wanted to get your attention. Regular chicken checks are just that critical during cold weather.  

Inspect combs and wattles daily for signs of frostbite, treating symptoms as necessary. You can also applying a light coat of petroleum jelly to help protect exposed areas.  

Watch for subtle behavioral changes such as lethargy, reduced appetite, or signs of distress. Prompt attention can prevent minor issues from developing into larger problems. 

TL/DR 

In order for your chickens to stay warm, your chicken coop must be draft-free from floor to roost and well-ventilated at the top. 

Heated Waterer & Hemp Bedding FTW – trust us, your freezing cold January self will thank your October self for being a true visionary.  

Provide proper nutrition and plenty of opportunities for enrichment to support overall flock health.  

 
A quick daily check in with each of your chickens allows you to spot frostbite, health issues, or symptoms of cold stress before they become serious problems. 

Winter chicken care does not need to be stressful. There’s still plenty of time to curl up with your pumpkin spice latte, review our TL/DR summary and FAQ’s below, and make some time this weekend to prepare your coop and your flock for a safe, healthy winter season.  

Pumpkin spice and zero ice (in your chicken waterers),  

~The RentACoop Team  

FAQ 

Is it okay to leave your chickens outside in cold weather?  

Yes, most breeds of chickens are well-equipped to handle cooler conditions. Their feathers act as natural insulation, and many breeds are especially tolerant of cold weather. Still, there are limits to what even the hardiest birds can manage. Keeping the coop dry, draft-free, and adequately ventilated is essential, as is ensuring your flock has access to proper nutrition and unfrozen water. 

Do your chickens need supplemental heat over the winter months or if your coop should be completely sealed from the cold?