Winter Health Essentials for Your Flock

Important: This guide is for general information only. It is not a substitute for veterinary advice. 

If you are concerned about your chickens' health or notice changes in behaviour, please use our Find a Chicken Vet tool to locate a poultry vet near you. 

Keeping Chickens Healthy During the Coldest Months 

Winter can be challenging for backyard flocks. Shorter days, damp weather, and low temperatures affect everything from diet to housing conditions. 

With a few simple adjustments, you can help your birds stay warm, comfortable, and resilient through the season. 

This guide covers the key areas to focus on through winter: warmth, nutrition, hydration, and hygiene. 

1) Warmth and Shelter 

Chickens cope surprisingly well with cold weather if they are dry and protected from draughts. Damp, rather than cold itself, as well as drafts through the coop are usually the biggest problems. 

Practical tips for housing

• Keep coops well ventilated but free from cold draughts at bird level 
• Check the roofs, walls, and doors for leaks and repair gaps
• Add extra bedding for insulation, replacing it more frequently (at least weekly) to keep it clean and dry 
• Avoid sealing up the coop completely, as fresh air helps prevent condensation and ammonia build-up. Allow stale air to rise and leave the coop above the birds 

Products keepers often use: 

• Chicken Vet Dri Bed to keep bedding dry and comfortable 
• Stalosan F to help manage odour and bacteria in housing 
• BioVX for disinfecting surfaces and equipment between cleans 

2) Nutrition Support 

Hens burn more energy in winter to stay warm, so they need a balanced diet rich in nutrients. 

Feeding advice: 

• Offer a high-quality layers pellet as the main diet 
• Feed at the same times each day to maintain a routine 
• Add a small handful of mixed corn or crushed maize for extra energy 
• Ensure access to grit and clean water at all times 

Products keepers often use: 

• Chicken Vet Multivitamins to maintain condition and support recovery from moulting 
• Zolcal-D to help with calcium and vitamin D3 levels when daylight  is limited 
• Beryl's Friendly Bacteria to support digestion and gut health 

3) Hydration and Frost Prevention 

Water is vital all year round. In freezing temperatures, birds can become dehydrated if drinkers freeze overnight. 

Practical tips: 

• Check and refresh water at least once a day 
• Move drinkers inside the coop overnight where possible 
• Place drinkers on a slightly raised platform to prevent spillage and reduce freezing 
• Avoid using metal containers that chill water faster 

Adding multivitamins or probiotics to drinking water can also support general health through the coldest days. 

4) Hygiene and Air Quality 

Even in winter, coops need regular cleaning to prevent respiratory issues and parasites build-up. 

Cleaning routine: 

• Remove droppings daily, especially under perches with a full bedding clear out once a week 
• Deep clean and disinfect 1-2 times a month with poultry-safe products
• Keep bedding dry and well-fluffed to promote airflow
• Avoid damp build-up under feeders and drinkers. Any wet bedding must be removed and replaced as soon as possiible 

Products keepers often use: 

• BioVX for routine disinfection 
• Interkokask RTU for quick spot cleaning 
• Stalosan F for ongoing control of odour, moisture, and bacteria between  cleans