Ensuring your coop is ready for winter is vital for the health, happiness and production of your birds. Here’s a few tips on how to make your chicken coop ready for the cold winter months.
Light – Light is a vital part of helping your hens keep laying through the winter. Adding in artificial daylight extends the daytime for the hens and the laying time.
Insulation – Ensure that your coop should be properly insulated to reduce heat transfer or flow and helps moderate the temperature.
Frostbite – You must regularly check your birds with large combs for signs of frostbite.
Eliminate Drafts -Seal any holes and cracks that are large enough to let light inside the coop. Blocking these up ensure that the heat stays inside the coop.
Keep your birds well fed – Making sure your birds are well fed is vital. The digestion process will raise the core temperature of the chicken and this will improve their circulation.
Accessible Water – Chickens need constant access to water. You could insulate the water source, replace the water every day to avoid freezing, hang a lamp above the water or invest in a heated bucket.
