Topic of the Week - Feeding Chickens in Winter

[BYC Project Manager]

Nutrition needs can change in colder months. This week, let’s share tips and insights on winter feeding for chickens. For example:

• Do you provide extra feed or change their diet in winter?
• What are your favorite winter treats or supplements to boost energy and health?
• How do you balance protein and carbohydrates during colder months?
• What role do warm mashes or soaked feeds play in your winter care routine?

Anything else you'd like to add.

 

[Debbie292d]

The only real difference in feeding our silkies during the winter months is I make them warm things to eat, like oatmeal, as a treat about once a week. I also make them a mash treat with warm water in a bowl of their crumbles. They think that's a treat too.

For either of the above, things can be added for more nutrition. I turn to our our @BYC Project Manager's article on the Top 50 Herbs for Your Chickens and pick out a couple of things to add. At a minimum, a little cinnamon is almost always surely to be found in anything I make for them.

In the summer, we grow kale for them, and in the winter, we'll pick up a bunch of it weekly from the grocery store as a treat. They sure love it!

In the winter I also ferment grains in quart jars and make it so there's a jar to share between pens about twice a week. If anyone thought about making ferment but it seems a little confusing, let me know. It's very easy or I wouldn't do it.

 

[jreardon1918]

When the girls start molting and egg production drops, I switch them from layer pellets (16% Protein, 3% Fat & 4.5% Fiber Max) to
Game bird pellet (20% Protein, 3.5% Fat & 4.5% Fiber Max). I also make sure there is a supply of oyster shell. This year I did this November 1st. I will start the morning lighting program mid January. Will return to layer pellets when the girls start laying again. That will likely happen early March.

11 hens ages 1.5 years - 4.5 years. Less than a dozen eggs in the last ten days.

*edited 4:50pm to add the word eggs.

 

[Penpal]

I add sunflower seeds, presoaked for 12 hours or so.

 

[Vicker]

In winter, I offer more fatty treats and some scratch grains. They still free-range.

 

[Sally PB]

I add more protein dense treats to their afternoon mash snack. BOSS, meat bits, bugs. I make their mash with warm liquids too.

 

[aart]

I feed the same 20% all flock crumbles all year around.
Only thing different in winter is rolled oats soaked in electrolyte solution if we have a particularly cold wave.
I see no reason to change that as it's worked well for 10+ years now.

 

[ByrdHouseFluffyButts]

Things have changed a great deal in chicken feed in the past 35 hrs. Any recommendations on brands and types for pullets?

 

[Sally PB]

When I get chicks, I get a bag of chick starter. When that's almost gone, I transition the chicks (so far brooded in the house, not with a broody hen) to Kalmbach 20% flock maker. That's usually when they're around 6 weeks old and in a "look don't touch" integration pen.

From then on, it's Kalmbach 20% flockmaker. That's what I've fed for about 3 years now.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

As with the heated waterer question, I don't actually get winter, just a few cool days and a few hours below freezing.

No changes to my feed program for the seasons, except in how much they eat. The "Biodiverse Polyculture" (my acres of weeds) is less productive, so my feed costs go up.