As seasons change, chickens’ nutritional needs vary with them. Winter requires additional protein, fats and carbohydrates as a source of energy in order for them to molt efficiently and generate heat within themselves.
Supplementing their regular feed with food scraps and treats can help replenish energy reserves and raise body temperature, but be careful to do so in moderation, rather than replacing their meal altogether.
Contents
Free-Choice Feeding
Winter temperatures require the flock’s energy and resources to be focused on staying warm, with egg production slowing or ceasing completely. Treats, scraps and supplements may help fill some of their nutritional gaps.
Chickens are natural omnivores, with voracious appetites for insects, greens and the flesh of mice and lizards (many breeds of chicken are known for their excellent mouse hunting capabilities). Protein and fat supplements provide energy and vitality to these birds’ energy systems and bodies.
Winter time poses unique challenges to poultry keeping, since their flock cannot gather nutrients on its own through foraging and pecking insects and plants they find. Treats with protein, fat and carbohydrates such as oatmeal or tea made of low sodium content should provide added nutrition while being easy on digestion; cracked corn also makes an excellent treat!
Treats & Scraps
Chickens love treats and scraps that add variety to their diet, but be wary that these become their main source of nutrition – too much fatty, high-carb food without enough vitamins or minerals may lead them to fill up on fat without receiving essential vitamins and minerals; moreover, insect populations decline during cold weather months, thus diminishing protein sources available as source.
Cooked pasta such as spaghetti or penne is an ideal treat for flocks in colder months as the extra carbs help generate heat to keep warm. Cracked corn and sunflower seeds also make great treats; just be careful that their high levels of carbohydrates and fat don’t lead to overindulgence – as all treats, these items should make up only 10% of their diet overall.
Pellets & Whole Grain Combo Feeds
Chickens are naturally omnivorous creatures, but during winter their diet becomes imbalanced as they consume fewer greens and more grains, seeds, fats and carbohydrates; increasing energy consumption while burning off protein that they need for warmth.
Gamebird, show bird or starter/grower feeds that contain higher levels of protein are ideal for keeping your flock warm and healthy over winter.
Grit is another essential ingredient. Hens get most of their grit needs through foraging on the ground; when the ground freezes over they can no longer forage, so offering pelleted or crumbled forms is key. Scratch is another great winter treat as its digestion requires more energy than other forms and produces heat inside their bodies while simultaneously being fun for flock members to chew on and engaging for those long winter days! Supplements that promote circulation or help combat cold stress should also be provided regularly to maintain health in this flock!
Grit
Grit helps chickens digest food by allowing their gizzards to grind up parts of their diet that might otherwise be too large to pass through, and strengthens bones by adding calcium not available from feed alone.
Chicks fed only starter feed don’t require grit as their food can be digested without grinding. Once chicks start eating treats or whole grains it would be wise to include grit for optimal digestive health.
Ideal grit for poultry should be a coarse blend designed specifically for them. When offering it, scatter it throughout their coop or run rather than mixing it into their food as this prevents chickens from indulging too much and burdening their crops and gizzards with too much material. Young chicks should start off on chick grit which has fine particles; as they get bigger you can switch over to grower grit.
