Cold-Hardy Chicken Breeds and How to Care for Them

By Lisa Steele
Updated on September 28, 2023
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by AdobeStock/chelle129

Properly caring for your flock in winter can be tricky, but these tips can get you started on winterizing chicken coops for your cold-hardy chickens.

Winter is approaching, and your chickens are ready to brave the elements with their brand new feathers. In the winter, they will fluff their feathers to trap warm air next to their bodies to help insulate themselves from the cold air. Chickens handle cold far better than heat, but that doesn’t mean they won’t appreciate a few creature comforts on those cold, blustery days. The most important thing in caring for chickens in winter is making sure that your coop is dry and draft-free, with good cross airflow and ventilation that is higher up than the roosts. Inadequate ventilation will lead to high moisture levels, which can contribute to both frostbite and respiratory issues. Frostbite is partially caused by damp conditions, so having good ventilation not only provides clean fresh air but helps prevent frostbite.

Roosts should be wide enough that your hens’ feet are flat when they roost and completely covered by their bodies from the top and the roosting board from underneath. This helps to prevent frostbite on their toes.

Cold-Hardy Chicken Breeds

Chickens with larger bodies and smaller combs are more cold-hardy than smaller breeds with large combs. Some particularly cold-hardy breeds include:

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