Cornell Cooperative Extension Livestock and Beginning Farm Specialist, Amy Barkley, shares how to prepare poultry for winter. Frequent additions of soft, dry, absorbent bedding provide a comfortable walking surface and additional insulation, especially for floor-dwelling waterfowl.

Amy Barkley, shares how to prepare poultry for winter

Preparing Poultry for WInter

Preparing Poultry for Winter

Preparing poultry for the upcoming winter season can promote good health and comfort all season long

SOUTHWEST, NEW YORK (November 2, 2020) – Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program (SWNYDLFC) shares tips for getting poultry ready for the long, cold winter months ahead.

As the daylight hours continue to wane and the cold begins to weave its way across the landscape, it is apparent that winter is coming, and our minds shift to preparing our livestock for winter. Poultry are hardier than we think, and with a few modifications to housing and care, they will be prepared for the bitter winds and incessant snowfall which are part of life in SWNY.

The first step in preparation is to make sure that there is a coop or barn available to the birds and that it is protective. Windows and doors should be totally closed when not in use, and openings that would cause drafts should be covered. If poultry are living in a mobile coop that is rotated on pasture during the summer months, the coop should be brought to an area that is easily accessible. If it has open sides, now is the time to cover those with tarps, thick plastic sheeting, or other solid siding.

However, there is no need to insulate the coop like a house; this is actually not recommended. Poultry produce a great deal of moisture from breathing, their excretion, and water spillage. Air flow in poultry housing is important in the winter to allow for air exchange and release of moisture from the living space. Poultry can tolerate cold on its own, but when cold is combined with a humid environment, it can lead to stress due to increased ammonia, increased potential of bumblefoot, which is an infection of the foot and/or toe pads caused by over exposure to wet manure, and increased potential for frost bite. A good way to check coop or barn moisture is to look at metal items in the coop such as nest boxes or feeders in addition to windows and walls. If condensation is seen on these surfaces, then it is too humid, and ventilation will need to be increased via the installation of vents, cracking of windows, and/or removing some excess insulation. High litter moisture can be addressed by regular removal of soiled litter and/or addition of dry, absorbent bedding material, such as straw, kiln-dried sawdust, or wood shavings.

Roosting poultry, including chickens, turkeys, guineas, and Muscovy ducks, should have perches that allow their feet to set flat. Round and narrow perches result in feet wrapping around the bar, which does not allow for the insulation of the toes by the feathers when the hen sits, which can result in frost bite. Ground-dwelling fowl such as ducks and geese should be bedded with clean, absorbent materials. This allows for the birds to stay warmer than if they were to set on a non-bedded floor.

Feeders will not need much extra maintenance in the wintertime, except for removing wet food that has become frozen and inaccessible. This will typically be seen in flocks of or containing waterfowl, rather than flocks containing only chickens, guineas, or turkeys. Keep in mind that poultry should be fed a complete ration formulated for their age and species, and that they will consume more feed over the winter months to meet their higher body energy demands.

When choosing a waterer for the winter, if the barn or coop is not heated, a more open flow type waterer will slow the speed if ice formation which can potentially plug integral parts of a waterer’s supply mechanism. While the use of shallow buckets can be a solution to this potential issue, caution should be used to monitor those birds with beards or long waddles, as they can dip into the water during drinking, which may predispose them to frost bite. Be prepared to check water 2-3x daily in the winter to ensure birds have an adequate supply. If a waterer is heated, it should be checked at least once per day to ensure continued functionality.

When deciding whether to provide heat to a coop or barn, know that poultry will acclimate to the outdoor temperatures with little or no need for supplemental heat if they are provided with a draft-free coop. Furthermore, supplemental heat sources have varying levels of safety. Heat lamps are the most dangerous because birds can inadvertently knock or fly into them, resulting in damage to the lamp or bulb, increasing the risk of starting a fire. Two safer options include heat plates and ceiling-mounted commercial heating units. If a heat lamp must be used, selecting one that is totally contained is safer than some of the standard heat lamps used commonly during chick rearing.

While there are a few things to consider, getting poultry coops and barns ready for the colder, snowier months ahead can be easy. With these preparations in place, poultry can have a low-stress winter.

If you have questions on winter preparation or care of poultry, reach out to Amy Barkley, Livestock and Beginning Farm Specialist, at amb544@cornell.edu or (716) 640 - 0844.

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program specialists are here to help provide research-based resources and support during this challenging time. Their team of four specialists include Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management (716-640-0522 or kaw249@cornell.edu); Joshua Putman, Field Crops (716-490-5572 or jap472@cornell.edu); Alycia Drwencke, Dairy Management (517-416-0386 or amd453@cornell.edu); and Amy Barkley, Livestock Management (716-640-0844 or amb544@cornell.edu). While specialists are working remotely at this time, they are still offering consultations via phone, text, email, videoconferencing, and mail. They are also providing weekly updates with timely resources and connections via email and hardcopy and virtual programming.

The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program is the newest Cornell Cooperative Extension regional program and covers Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Steuben Counties. The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops regional specialists work with Cornell faculty and Extension educators to address the issues that influence the agricultural industry in New York by offering educational programming and research based information to agricultural producers, growers, and agribusinesses in the Southwestern New York Region. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities. For more information about this program, or to be added to their contact list, contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Team Leader, at 716-640-0522, kaw249@cornell.edu, or visit their website swnydlfc.cornell.edu.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Amy Barkley at 716-640-0844 or email amb544@cornell.edu. For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension, contact your county’s Association Executive Director. Allegany County – Laura Hunsberger, lkh47@cornell.edu or 585-268-7644. Cattaraugus County – Dick Rivers, rer263@cornell.edu or 716-699-2377. Chautauqua County – Emily Reynolds, eck47@cornell.edu or 716-664-9502. Erie County – Diane Held, dbh24@cornell.edu or 716-652-5400. Steuben County – Tess McKinley, tsm223@cornell.edu, or 607-664-2301.

Last updated November 2, 2020