Livestock & Pet Supplies

Keeping Your Chickens Cozy in Winter

By Ganado Feed & More

Winter on the Texas coast may not be North Pole cold… but it’s cold enough to have every chicken-keeper wondering: “Are my girls warm enough?”

Good news: your hens come factory-installed with thick feather jackets, built-in heaters (aka their 106° body temps), and more cold-weather grit than most of us give them credit for. With a little prep, they’ll be just fine—and yes, we’ve got everything you need right here at Ganado Feed & More to keep your flock happy, hearty, and laying strong.

Let’s tackle the most common winter chicken questions---

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1. Do I need a heat lamp?

Short answer: Usually, nope.
Long answer: Unless your coop is colder than your deep freeze, your ladies don’t need a full-blown chicken spa day. If you must add heat, think “gentle warm hug,” not “Bahama vacation.” A few degrees is plenty.

(And please—for the love of feathers—be careful with heat lamps!)

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2. What should I feed my hens in winter?

Let’s debunk a myth: Oats are for cookies, not chickens.
They don’t digest them well, which means unhappy tummies, cranky hens, and fewer eggs.

Stick with a high-quality layer feed—like the ones we keep stocked year-round:

• Purina® Farm to Flock™ 18% Layer – Gut-happy hens = happy you

• Purina® Layena® pellets or crumbles – The classic crowd-favorite

• Thomas Moore Scratch 'N More – An all-around chicken favorite

Your flock will thank you. Probably not verbally, but you’ll see it in the eggs.

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3. How do I keep feed & water from freezing?

Heated waterers, or a heat lamb above your waterer, are your winter best friend.
Your hens burn more energy staying warm, so they’ll eat more—just keep following the 90/10 rule on treats. And yes, we carry the good treats:
Happy Hen Mealworms and Fancy Flock Mealworm & Shrimp Blend
(Think of them as chicken crack… they LOVE them.)

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4. Can chickens go outside in winter?

Absolutely. Chickens are basically wearing snow boots and leggings at all times. Their circulation system keeps their toes warm enough to avoid frostbite—nature’s pretty smart like that.

Let ’em scratch, stomp, and sass in the cold.

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5. Will they lay eggs in winter?

Don’t panic—winter + shorter days = annual molt.
That means: fewer eggs, more feathers on the coop floor, and your hens looking like they just rolled out of a wind tunnel.

Add extra light (about 16 hours/day) to keep egg production steady.  How can you add extra light?  Heat lamps could do the trick!

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6. Will the eggs freeze?

Yep. Frozen eggs crack.
If it’s below freezing, plan on more nest box visits. Consider it your winter steps challenge.

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7. Should my chicken coop be draft-free?

Ventilation = yes. Drafts = no.
Crack a top vent or window so the air stays fresh without turning your coop into a wind tunnel.

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8. Should the coop stay dry?

A damp coop is a cranky coop.
Add plenty of bedding and scoop out wet spots daily. Your girls will burrow in like feathery little marshmallows.

Try our Sweet PDZ Coop Refresher to extend the life of your hay or shavings, and keep the inside of your coop fresh!

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9. Do chickens need entertainment in winter?

Yes!
Stuck inside = bored hens = drama.
Add logs, branches, ladders, swings, or toss in a Purina® Flock Block® for enrichment and nutrition. Think of it as Netflix for poultry.

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Ready to winter-proof your flock?

Swing by Ganado Feed & More!
We’ll help you pick the right feed, treats, bedding, light lamps, and everything else your girls need to stay warm and lay strong all winter long.

And hey—grab a bag of Purina with Oyster Strong® while you’re here. Your hens will reward you with better shells, better production, and fewer cracked eggs this winter.

Warm hens, strong eggs, happy you. Come see us! 🐔💜