Protect Chicken Combs from Winter Cold

Chickens are hardy animals that can handle the cold. However, chickens’ exposed skin, in combs and wattles, can suffer badly from frostbite in freezing temperatures. When the temperature dips, you can protect their skin and prepare their environment to keep the combs safe. A few preventative measures can keep your chickens happy and warm.

Steps

Preventing Frostbite

  1. Wait until the evening. To keep a better control over your birds, wait until they have entered the roost for the night before applying any covering. Overnight is when the temperature will be lowest, so it is when your chickens will be most susceptible to frostbite.[1]
  2. Check for signs of frostbite. Before adding anything to your chicken’s comb, make sure they aren’t already suffering from frostbite. You’ll notice because those areas of the comb will be black. You can still apply a covering, but just be careful when applying jelly to this skin, as it will be very sensitive.[2]
    • If you notice frostbite on the skin, Treat Frostbite in Chickens where possible. Move your chicken to a warm area. Soak a clean cloth in lukewarm water and hold against the frostbitten areas. Do not use direct heat like a dryer, or rub the comb.[3]
    • Combs do not grow back, so don’t break off the blackened tips. This will cause problems for the chicken in regulating body heat, especially during the summer.[4]
  3. Apply petroleum jelly. Cover the chicken’s wattle and comb liberally with petroleum jelly. Massage the jelly into any exposed red skin around the head. Once you have rubbed some in, leave an extra thick coat onto the comb and wattle.[2]
    • Be very careful to avoid getting any jelly into the birds’ eyes.
    • If you want a natural alternative to petroleum jelly, consider using olive oil, coconut oil, or a biodegradable product like Waxelene instead.[1][4]
  4. Reapply when skin is dry. You want to make sure your birds’ combs stay warm, so be prepared to pick them up and touch the skin. If the comb feels dry, you should apply another coat. If it feels oily or greasy, the original coat is still there.[2]
  5. Get cold-weather chicken breeds. Some breeds are better in cold conditions, and you may consider choosing to raise these if you are in a cold climate. When looking for cold-weather birds, focus on breeds with larger bodies and smaller combs. This means more body fat for keeping warm and less exposed skin vulnerable to frostbite.[2]
    • Some of the best breeds for cold weather are Ameraucanas, Ancona, Black Australorps, Black Giant, Blue Andalusian, Brahma, Buff Orpingtons, Cochins, Delaware, Dominique, Langshan, New Hampshire, Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Red, Russian Orloff, Speckled Sussex and Wyandottes.

Creating a Warm Environment

  1. Ventilate the coop. While you want to avoid having a drafty coop, there should be some air circulation. Add screened windows near the overhang where the walls meet the roof. You can close windows during the night, as long as you remember to open them back up during the day.[2]
    • It is important to keep the coop ventilated, and not sealed, to keep the environment safe. A sealed coop will trap humidity, which can lead to frostbite. You can also get a buildup of ammonia gas from the chickens’ droppings, which will damage their lungs.
  2. Build wide roosting bars. To help prevent frostbite on your chickens’ feet, they should have a roost wide enough for the hens to perch with their bodies covering the tops of their feet and the roost covering the bottom. Installing a 2x4 with the 4” side facing up is a good choice.[4]
  3. Use a heater. If you face particularly chilly winters, you may consider putting a small heater in the coop. You don’t want the coop too warm, just a little above freezing. If the coop is too warm, your chickens won’t get used to the cold weather.[2][1]
    • An electric light bulb is a good option, as it provides heat without being as much of a fire hazard, and will be cheaper to run.[3]
  4. Change the bedding every few days. You want to reduce moisture in the coop, so don’t allow your chickens to roost in wet bedding, especially in cold weather. Make sure the bedding material is both deep and dry, or else you’ll be dealing with wet conditions, which can quickly lead to disease.[2]
  5. Feed a little more. Consider adding a little more to your chickens’ diet during the colder weather by supplementing it with corn or scratch. This will help add a little more fat to your animals for better insulation. This doesn’t replace your regular feeding amount, just adds a little bit more.[1]
  6. Make sure their water is fresh. You want to make sure your birds stay hydrated, so keep their water filled and clean. If you notice any ice beginning to form, break it up.[2]
    • Remove any eggs. Chicken eggs are nearly 75 percent water, so if they stay in the coop, they will probably freeze and crack, getting everything wet.[1]

Tips

  • The more you handle your chickens, the easier it will get to apply coverings. Like any warm-blooded pet (and many cold-blooded, as well), chickens who are held, petted, talked to, and generally treated like pets will come to enjoy this treatment, and even seek it. It is much easier to care for any creature that doesn't automatically run from you, or panic at your touch.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.hobbyfarms.com/6-winter-tips-for-your-flock/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 http://www.tractorsupply.com/know-how_pets-livestock_chicken_how-to-prepare-your-chickens-for-winter
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.yourchickens.co.uk/care-and-advice/keeping_your_chickens_warm_this_winter_1_3828852
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2014/01/treating-and-preventing-frostbite-in.html
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