Seasonal Care
How to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter Without Adding Heat
Healthy adult chickens keep themselves warm. Your job is to keep them dry, out of drafts, fed and drinking. Eight practical steps from extension guidance.
November · Fall in the coop
Backyard chicken care, season by season
Clear, researched guides for small flocks: coops sized for real yards, chicks raised step by step, and what to do in the coop each month.
Fall in the coop: what to do now
All fall guidesMolting, shorter days and the last good weather to get the coop ready for winter.
- MoltExpect feathers everywhere and fewer eggs; raise protein.
- WinterizeFix leaks and drafts while it is still warm enough to work. Read the guide
- DaylightLaying slows as days shorten. That is normal; decide now whether to add light. Read the guide
Seasonal Care
Winter Chicken Coop Checklist: What to Do Before the First Hard Freeze
A short list of jobs to finish in fall so the flock stays dry, out of drafts and drinking through winter.
Essential guides
The questions every new keeper asks first.
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How to Raise Baby Chicks: The First Six Weeks, Week by WeekWhat chicks need from the day they arrive until they are feathered: heat, space,…
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What Size Chicken Coop Do You Need? Space for 4, 6, 10 and 20 HensThe floor space, run area, roost length and nest boxes to plan for, worked…
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Winter Chicken Coop Checklist: What to Do Before the First Hard FreezeA short list of jobs to finish in fall so the flock stays dry,…
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How to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter Without Adding HeatHealthy adult chickens keep themselves warm. Your job is to keep them dry, out…
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Brooder Temperature Chart: How Long Do Chicks Need a Heat Lamp?Chicks need supplemental heat for about six weeks. The week-by-week temperatures, how to measure…
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What Do Baby Chicks Eat? Starter Feed, Water and TreatsChicks need a starter feed with 18 to 20 percent protein and clean water.…
Browse by topic
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Getting StartedRules, costs and first decisions before you bring birds home.
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Coops & RunsSizing, layouts, kits and predator-proofing by flock size.
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Seasonal CareWhat to do in the coop each season, from heat waves to hard freezes.
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Chicks & BroodingBrooders, heat, feed and moving chicks outside.
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BreedsChoosing breeds by climate, temperament and egg colour.
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Feeding & TreatsFeed, water, safe kitchen scraps and what to avoid.
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Health & BehaviorMolting, egg problems, pecking order and when to call a vet.
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Gear GuidesDoors, feeders, waterers and heaters compared on the details that matter.
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Gifts & DecorCoop signs, seasonal decor and gifts for chicken keepers.
Latest guides
Seasonal Care
Do Chickens Need a Coop Heater in Winter? Safety First
Usually not. Healthy adult chickens cope with cold when the coop is dry and draft-free, and heat sources are a common cause of coop fires. When heat makes sense, and how to do it safely.
Seasonal Care
How to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter Without Adding Heat
Healthy adult chickens keep themselves warm. Your job is to keep them dry, out of drafts, fed and drinking. Eight practical steps from extension guidance.
Chicks & Brooding
What Do Baby Chicks Eat? Starter Feed, Water and Treats
Chicks need a starter feed with 18 to 20 percent protein and clean water. What to feed, how much, when to add treats and grit, and what to avoid.
Chicks & Brooding
When Can Chicks Go Outside? Age, Feathers and Temperature
Most chicks can move to the coop at about six weeks, once they are fully feathered and nights are no colder than the brooder they are used to.
Chicks & Brooding
Brooder Temperature Chart: How Long Do Chicks Need a Heat Lamp?
Chicks need supplemental heat for about six weeks. The week-by-week temperatures, how to measure them, and how to tell when chicks are too hot or too cold.
Chicks & Brooding
How to Raise Baby Chicks: The First Six Weeks, Week by Week
What chicks need from the day they arrive until they are feathered: heat, space, feed, water and the warning signs to watch for.
How we work
Our research process- Sourced, not guessed
Care advice is checked against university extension guides and veterinary sources, which every article lists.
- Independent picks
No brand pays to be included. When a product has drawbacks, we say so.
- Dated and updated
Every guide shows when it was last updated, and prices carry the date we checked them.