Thriving Through Winter: Natural and Holistic Care for Your Chickens

by Judith Yisrael November 4, 2024

Raising chickens through the winter can present unique challenges, but it’s also an opportunity to deepen your connection with the rhythm of nature and provide outstanding care for your flock. At Yisrael Farms, we prioritize a natural environment and avoid artificial lighting, focusing instead on sustainable practices that promote the well-being of both the land and our animals. In this blog, we’ll share our approach to raising chickens in winter without disrupting their natural cycles.

Understanding the Natural Rhythm of Chickens

Chickens are attuned to the changing seasons, and their behaviors shift in response to the reduced daylight of winter. Hens lay fewer eggs or may stop laying entirely during the cold months. This is their body’s natural response to conserve energy and remain healthy. While some farmers use artificial lighting to stimulate egg production, we choose to embrace the hens’ natural rest period, giving them the time they need to recharge.

By working with nature, we align with our philosophy of honoring the earth’s seasons and allowing animals to follow their natural rhythms.

Preparing the Coop for Winter Comfort

A warm, draft-free environment is crucial for ensuring your chickens thrive throughout the cold months. Here are some essential steps to winterize your coop while keeping it as natural as possible:

1. Insulating the Coop

Insulation helps regulate the temperature inside the coop and keeps your flock comfortable. However, the coop should also be ventilated to prevent moisture buildup. Too much humidity in a closed space can lead to frostbite, respiratory issues, and mold growth.

Eco-friendly insulation options include straw bales along the walls or recycled wool.
Good ventilation at the top of the coop allows moisture to escape without creating cold drafts near where the chickens roost.

2. Deep Litter Method

The deep litter method is one of our favorite natural ways to keep the coop warm in winter. This method involves building up layers of bedding—such as straw, pine shavings, or wood chips—over time. As the bedding decomposes, it generates natural heat, helping to warm the coop without electricity.

Regularly turning the bedding helps aerate it, keeping the coop dry and reducing ammonia buildup.
When spring arrives, the decomposed bedding makes excellent compost for your garden.

Keeping Chickens Active in the Winter

Chickens need physical and mental stimulation all year round, including winter. Cold weather can make them more prone to boredom, which may lead to negative behaviors like feather pecking. Here are some ways to keep your flock active and entertained when days are short and the ground is frozen:

1. Offer Winter Treats and Foraging Opportunities

While the ground may be too hard for them to scratch naturally, you can recreate the foraging experience.

Scatter scratch grains, dried mealworms, or sunflower seeds around the coop or run.
Add bundles of herbs like thyme or oregano to keep them curious and support their immune systems.
Provide fresh greens such as sprouted grains or leftover vegetable scraps from the kitchen to keep them engaged.

2. Create Dust Bathing Areas

Even in winter, chickens love dust baths to clean their feathers and prevent parasites. A dust bath box filled with wood ash and fine sand allows them to indulge in this natural behavior indoors or under cover in their run.

Managing Winter Egg Production Naturally

Winter is a time of rest for laying hens, and we allow our flock to take a break from egg production. This rest period ensures they stay healthy and productive during the warmer months. If some hens continue to lay through winter, you can help them conserve energy with these strategies:

Provide plenty of protein-rich foods such as mealworms to support egg-laying hens.
Make sure there’s access to calcium supplements like crushed eggshells to keep eggshells strong.

While production may slow, the eggs laid in winter tend to have richer yolks and thicker shells due to the hens’ relaxed, stress-free environment.

Protecting Chickens from Frostbite and Cold Weather Ailments

Chickens are remarkably resilient, but their combs, wattles, and feet are susceptible to frostbite when temperatures drop. Here are natural ways to protect your flock from cold-related ailments:

1. Herbal Ointments for Combs and Wattles

Applying a thin layer of herbal salve to combs and wattles can prevent frostbite on particularly cold days. This acts as a moisture barrier and offers some protection against the elements.

2. Monitor for Signs of Illness

Chickens may be more prone to respiratory infections in winter if their coop is too damp or poorly ventilated. Watch for signs like coughing, sneezing, or runny nostrils. Offer herbal supplements such as garlic, oregano, and apple cider vinegar in their water to support their immune health.

Hydration and Feeding Tips for Winter

Chickens need access to clean, unfrozen water at all times. However, keeping water from freezing in winter can be a challenge. Here’s how we manage water and nutrition in winter naturally:

1. Keep Water Liquid Without Electricity

Floating ping-pong balls in water containers help keep water moving, reducing the chance of it freezing.
Rotate waterers frequently throughout the day to ensure your chickens have access to fresh water.

2. Offer Warm, Energy-Rich Foods

Chickens burn more calories in winter to stay warm. We supplement their feed with energy-rich treats:

Warm oatmeal mixed with herbs like cinnamon and turmeric provides extra warmth.
Offer corn or sunflower seeds before bedtime to help them generate body heat throughout the night.

Free-Range Time in Winter

Even during the winter months, it’s important to allow your chickens outdoor time when the weather permits. Chickens love to explore their surroundings, and time outside boosts their mental well-being.

Free-range in the orchard: Even if you have snow on the ground, your chickens will enjoy scratching around. Just be mindful of predators who may be more active during winter.
Provide shelter spots like small tarps or lean-tos in the run so the flock can retreat if the weather turns.

Encourage your chickens to spend time outdoors on sunny days—natural light and fresh air are essential for their health.

Predators and Winter Safety

As winter food sources become scarce, predators like raccoons, foxes, and hawks may pose a greater threat to your flock. Protect your chickens with these measures:

Reinforce fencing to ensure there are no gaps predators could exploit.
Lock the coop early in the evening as darkness falls earlier.
Make sure your chickens have access to high perches to keep them safe and secure.

Embracing the Season with Your Flock

Raising chickens in winter without artificial lighting means accepting a slower pace, but it also provides a chance to build a deeper connection with your flock. We’ve found that winter is an excellent time to focus on care routines and bond with our birds—providing them with extra treats, checking on them more frequently, and enjoying quiet moments in the coop.

While egg production may slow, the flock’s well-being flourishes under this approach, and they emerge from winter healthy, rested, and ready for spring.

Final Thoughts

Winter care for chickens requires planning and effort, but it aligns beautifully with the rhythms of natural farming. At Yisrael Farms, we see winter as a time to step back and let nature take its course—supporting our animals with love, nourishment, and safety.

By embracing the season and resisting the temptation to alter it with artificial means, you’ll give your chickens the best care possible. Come spring, your well-rested flock will thank you with an abundance of eggs and renewed energy.

We hope these tips inspire you to keep things natural this winter while ensuring your flock thrives. Do you have any winter chicken-keeping tips or questions? Leave them in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!