How to properly feed chickens for/during winter

[they'reHISchickens]

I would remove the heating pads from the coop. Chickens have feathers. If the coop has draft-free space, they will be quite happy and warm with just their feathers. And you'd have less chance of a coop-fire.

 

[Cavendish Chickens]

With two small heating pads, and all the other stuff we've done, they stay pretty warm. Before the heating pads, they were really cold and barely moved. Now they are happier and moving around a lot more. Kind of like in the warm summer we all love (and already miss lol). During the day it's wonderfully warm due to the sun, but at night it is freezing. There may be a draft at the base of the run letting the colder air in. We put it as close to the ground as we could, but it can leak right in down there. I'm not really worried about a fire starting. We keep the straw very thick, and the mats/wires are protected enough. The surge protector is higher up on the wall, and the unused outlets close to avoid anything getting in by accident. A lot safer than getting a heater like we were originally planning. They absolutely LOVE the heating pads.

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

please remember that even a fat hen will stop laying eggs, so use scratch lightly with them since it is really only a good thing to give as a treat on cold days. i would suggest making some flock blocks and hiding them around the coop for the chickens to find. it would keep them moving and warm themselves up while putting on muscle instead of too much fat.

if your chickens are about 6 mo they will start laying. i had an EE start around 6mo and in December during the coldest part of the month last year!

as long as your coop has the proper ventilation and very few drafts chickens should be fine with cold temps. you can always use straw bales around the bottom of a raised up coop to slow/stop drafts coming in from the bottom. i would recommend using Vaseline or another petroleum product to grease up the combs to protect from frostbite. if the ventilation isn't very good you will see issues with frostbite setting in since moisture is collecting in the coop from not being able to escape.

 

[Cavendish Chickens]

We are making sure to use vaseline on their combs. They seem to enjoy that extra attention. I don't mind a low/no egg production during the winter season. That doesn't bother me. It's only natural for them. I just want to make sure we are feeding them right. There really aren't any places to hide food blocks. The space is pretty open with the feeder and waterer hanging down, and two plastic chairs the girls like. Then there's the top of the coop the girls sit on too. We leave gaps where we can to help let the moisture escape. Hopefully we've done enough. Like I said, I'm pretty confident in the rest. Just want to make sure we're feeding them good and wanted to know if we should fatten them up for the winter, and if that would help them stay warmer.

 

[woodmort]

First of all, lose the heating pads. You may think you're helping them but in truth you're preventing them from gaining fat that would protect them once the weather gets really cold. What do you think is going to happen should the power go off? There is such a thing as overprotecting chickens. It is normal for chickens to slow down their activity when the weather is bad.

As far as the feed. I'd suggest feeding them what you normally do but adding a handful or 2 of scratch to their daily diet--with just three birds that should be sufficient. Toss it on the floor of coop and let them dig for it. It will not only give them extra fat but something to do.

The vaseline on their combs will protect them from frostbite only when it gets really cold (below zero) and if there is a lot of moisture in the coop. I doubt as you need to do it yet. By "gaps" I hope your mean vents that are positioned so the birds are able to roost without being in a draft. They need a draft-free place to stay.

Since your pullets are first year layers, you will get eggs during the winter. They won't be able to stop themselves.

FYI: Until the birds first lay they're "pullets" they don't become hens until they start producing eggs. It's kinda like girls vs women.