Cold Weather Care Guide for Chickens: A guide to caring for descendants of red jungle fowl in a cold climate.
Despite BYC myths, chickens are NOT genetically equipped to handle cold temperatures and require supplemental heat sources in cold climates. Here’s a coop checklist to help you ensure resident safety:
Coop Checklist:
- Clean
- Regulated Temperature
- Humidity Control
- Draft-free
- Ventilation
- Roosts
DO’s/DON’Ts:
DO plan ahead.
DO stay on top of checking the weather.
DO have a plan in place for power outages.
DO insulate coops.
DO seek out compassionate care resources.
DO clean frequently.
DO install supplemental heat sources.
DO have proper ventilation.
DO NOT use heat lamps.
DO NOT follow the deep litter method.
DO NOT seek out advice from those who exploit chickens.
Tools to help regulate temperature:
- Insulation
- Safe heat sources such as oil-filled radiator heaters for large spaces and wall mountable panel heaters for smaller spaces, NOT heat lamps as these are high fire risks. Make sure all heaters are free of PFTE (teflon) and installed so residents cannot perch directly on them.
- Thermostats
Watch out for the signs your residents may be cold, such as: tucking their head, puffed up feathers, lifting feet, and huddling next to flock mates. Pay special attention to birds who are seniors, large breed, disabled, or who may be ostracized from the flock. Immediately bring them to warmer temperatures if you see any signs of cold stress.
And remember: Cold + Moisture = Frostbite. Monitor combs, wattles and feet closely as they are most susceptible. Frostbite is extremely painful and can take weeks after exposure to appear.
To learn more about keeping residents warm and safe, as well as specific product recommendations, check out our friends at The Open Sanctuary Project and our community Facebook group, Vegans with Chickens.
To learn more about our grant programs that can help with the financial cost, visit microsanctuary.org