Why Chickens Need Special Care in Winter
Chickens can handle the cold well, but only if they have a properly winterized coop. When they’re cold, chickens grow a thick layer of down feathers (or a “duvet”) under their feathers, but they’re still vulnerable to the dangers of winter.
Dampness, drafts, and frozen water are all threats that you’ll need to address to keep your flock comfortable and laying consistently. If you don’t, you risk frostbite on their combs and feet, reduced egg production, and overall lower health.
That’s why making a warm, dry, and well-insulated coop should be a priority on your farm or homestead as the temperatures drop.
How to Insulate a Chicken Coop
Keeping out the cold starts with good insulation. Proper insulation creates a comfortable environment for your chickens that shields them from winter winds while still allowing enough airflow to prevent moisture buildup. Dampness is one of the biggest threats in winter, as it can lead to frostbite and respiratory issues in chickens, so a smartly insulated coop helps your flock stay warm without relying on constant electricity or heating
DIY Coop Insulation Basics
You don’t need to be a construction expert to add some useful insulation to your chicken coop. For a simple coop setup, adding foam panels, thick cardboard, or draft-proof tape over any gaps in walls, doors, or windows can make a big difference in maintaining warmth. Here are a few more practical tips:
Seal doors and windows
Close off any small openings where wind might slip through, especially around doors and windows. You can use weather stripping, draft-proof tape, or plastic sheeting to cover these gaps. This will help block cold drafts from reaching the chickens while keeping the coop cozy.
Add insulation layers to walls
Foam boards or reflective insulation panels are affordable and work well for DIY insulation. You can attach these to the coop walls to help hold in warmth. Thick cardboard can also act as an extra barrier if foam boards aren’t available.
Ventilation at the top
While blocking drafts is important, you still need to allow for ventilation at the top of the coop. Chickens produce moisture as they breathe, and this humidity can accumulate and freeze on really cold days. A few small vents near the roof will allow the moisture to escape without letting in too much cold air.
Avoid Airtight Sealing
It’s really important that your coop isn’t completely sealed off from fresh air, even in winter. A balance between insulation and ventilation will keep your chickens warm while avoiding any respiratory issues that can come from poor airflow.
Heating the Coop
Most people’s first instinct is to heat the entire coop, but this can lead to some serious risks.
If your chickens become accustomed to a constantly warm environment, they’re at risk if the power goes out suddenly—they’ll be left vulnerable to extreme cold, which can be difficult for them to handle if they haven’t acclimated. Instead, we recommend a targeted approach: heating only specific areas that need it most.
Waterline and Water Tote
Keeping the water supply unfrozen is the most important thing for chicken health in winter. You can buy a heated bell waterer or put a heated wire around the waterer so the water doesn’t freeze (making sure that the wire cannot be pecked at).
Heating the waterline and water tote directly makes sure your chickens always have access to fresh, drinkable water, even in freezing temperatures. This also conserves energy by heating only the water source instead of the entire coop, keeping energy costs down and making winter care more manageable.
Egg Belt
Eggs are also sensitive to extreme cold and can freeze or crack if they’re left unprotected in winter. While many people check on their eggs at least twice a day to prevent freezing, the heated egg belt in the ROVA|BARN keeps eggs at a safe temperature for longer.
For extra warmth, you could also place a heated pad in individual nesting boxes to give more protection without heating the entire coop.
ROVA|BARN in Winter
Unlike most mobile coops that use general, full-coop heating, we designed the ROVA|BARN to work with chickens’ natural cold-hardiness by only keeping the most critical areas warm—like water lines, water totes, and egg belts—instead of the whole space.
Each barn also features automated flaps that can close tightly in winter, keeping drafts and snow out.
Using Straw for Warmth
One of the easiest ways to help your chickens handle winter cold is by providing a layer of bedding, like straw, to insulate the coop floor.
Straw is naturally insulating—it traps heat, keeping chickens’ feet warm and preventing the ground beneath them from getting damp and icy. Adding a layer of dry bedding reduces the risk of frostbite and makes it more comfortable for your chickens to nestle down.
In the ROVA|BARN, a layer of straw covers the floor in all of our models. We’ve found that this keeps the coop dry, warm, and comfortable for the flock, and you can easily refresh the straw to keep things clean—we like to move the barn forward every so often to clear out manure and add fresh bedding as needed.
Mobile Chicken Coop with Electricity
In our experience, running electricity to your coop makes winter management a LOT easier. If you're using an automated or heated setup like the ROVA|BARN, placing your coop near a reliable power source really is key. We’ve found that keeping it close to electricity simplifies everything—from heating the water and egg belts to powering the automated features.
Light for Winter Egg Production
In winter, chickens need extra lighting if you want them to keep laying consistently.
Chickens require about 16 hours of light each day to produce eggs, which can be a bit of a challenge in short winter days, so adding an on/off light or a dimmable light to mimic sunrise and sunset can help maintain egg production through the darker months.
Our winterization kit for the ROVA|BARN includes a dimmer light, along with a water heater and nest heater, to support your flock’s health and productivity all season.
Managing Manure Build-Up
In a winter coop setup, chickens generally aren’t as mobile as they are in the summer, so manure tends to build up faster.
Mobile coops like the ROVA|BARN allow you to periodically move the coop forward to clear out manure and add a fresh layer of straw. This helps keep things clean, reduces ammonia buildup, and makes for healthier winter living conditions for your flock.
For stationary coops, manure buildup can depend on how much straw is used and the number of animals. Some people prefer to add small amounts of straw throughout winter and do a full clean in spring, while others might attempt a mid-winter clean if the buildup is too high.
Just note that frequent deep cleaning can stress out your chickens, potentially triggering molting and reducing egg production. So, a mobile setup makes it much simpler to manage waste and maintain a fresh, dry environment—something your chickens (and you!) will appreciate as winter wears on.
Protecting Your Chickens in Winter
From our experience, winter adds a few extra challenges when it comes to keeping chickens safe, but with the right prep, you can make the season much easier on your flock.
Keep them dry
Dry bedding is a must. We always keep a close eye on the bedding in the coop because when it gets damp or dirty, frostbite risks go way up, especially on their combs and feet. If we notice any damp spots, we replace it with fresh straw or bedding right away. This small task makes a big difference in keeping the coop dry and warm and keeping your chickens safe.
Stock fresh water
Chickens are curious, and they’ll likely peck at the snow, but it shouldn’t be their main water source. They still need fresh, unfrozen water every day to stay healthy. Use heated water containers or heat the parts of the water system that need it to prevent their water supply freezing over.
Chicken Breeds for Cold Weather
If you live in a colder climate, choosing a cold-hardy chicken breed can make winter care a lot simpler. These breeds have dense feather coats that provide natural insulation against the cold and help them retain body heat more easily, and they tend to have smaller combs and wattles which reduce the risk of frostbite.
Some breeds known for their cold resilience are:
- Rhode Island Reds: Known for their hardiness, they’re great egg layers and handle lower temperatures well.
- Plymouth Rocks: They have a thick feather coat and can adapt easily to colder weather.
- Orpingtons: Orpingtons are large and fluffy with excellent cold tolerance and friendly personalities.
Raising Fully-Grown Layers
Starting chicks in winter isn’t usually the best idea, as young chickens are more vulnerable to the cold. Chicks need extra warmth to thrive, and winter conditions can be too harsh without supplementary heat.
For the best results, try to raise layers that are around 18 weeks old by the time winter hits in your area. Birds this age are fully feathered and more robust, with developed plumage that acts as a natural barrier against the cold to help them comfortably manage winter’s chill.
Do Chickens Like Snow?
Chickens might find snow intriguing—they might watch it fall with a curious tilt of their heads or even give it a cautious peck. But despite their curiosity, chickens aren’t built for the cold, and they aren’t natural snowbirds.
You’ll probably see them nibbling at snow when they head outside, which is fine in small amounts. Just make sure snow doesn’t become their primary water source. Always provide fresh, unfrozen water in the coop to keep them hydrated and healthy.
A little snow play is okay, but they shouldn’t be standing in it for long stretches. To keep them safe, try adding a few outdoor shelters or scattering straw in snowy areas, so they can explore without getting too wet or chilled. Too much time on snow can lead to frostbite, so encourage movement while giving them some protection from the elements.
