Choosing Cold-Weather Chickens

The best way to prevent winter mortality is to choose cold-weather chickens bred for your environment. Living in an area of the world with long, cold, wet winters, it’s common to see new chicken owners reaching out for help as temperatures drop. As the frosts hit, ice forms, and snow falls, there’ll always be the occasional person who realizes too late that they don’t know how to help their birds make it through the coldest days. Most support will be around housing, bedding, proper ventilation, and keeping the runs clean and dry. However, the best advice for new chicken owners should come before they buy their first chick. Chicken breeds have been developed for specific climates like any other domesticated animal. The best way to prevent winter mortality is to choose chickens bred for your environment. Learning what characteristics will help birds thrive in cold weather will help you and your birds get through winter more easily.