Last night the temperatures dipped into the 40s, and it was a sharp reminder that winter is right around the corner. For backyard chicken keepers, cold weather brings unique challenges, and proper preparation is essential for keeping your flock happy and healthy.

In past posts, I’ve shared tips on how to winterize a chicken coop, install heated waterers, and even use radiant heating panels. But one key aspect of cold-weather chicken care often gets overlooked: supplementing your chickens’ diet to help them thrive during the winter months.

These cold weather chicken feeding tips will help you boost egg production, support digestion, and keep your flock warm when the frost sets in.

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Why Winter Feeding Strategies Matter

Chickens require extra energy to maintain body heat when temperatures drop. Without proper nutrition, they may slow down egg production, lose weight, or become more susceptible to illness. That’s why winter chicken feed supplementsare so important.

• Increase calories – Offer slightly larger portions of their regular feed.
• Boost protein – Protein helps maintain feather health and energy.
• Warm morning treats – A bowl of warm oatmeal with dried fruit or mealworms provides both comfort and nutrition.
• Evening scratch grains – Feeding scratch before bedtime helps boost their metabolism overnight.
• Provide grit – If snow or frozen ground prevents natural foraging, supply grit to aid digestion.

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Cracked Corn Benefits for Chickens in Winter

One of the most common cold-weather supplements is cracked corn. It’s a high-carbohydrate food that helps chickens generate body heat. Many homesteaders consider it a winter staple.

• Energy boost – Offer cracked corn in the late afternoon to give your flock fuel for staying warm through the night.
• Not a replacement – While beneficial, cracked corn should not replace a complete chicken feed.
• Balanced diet – Limit cracked corn to no more than 10% of their total diet to avoid nutrient deficiencies.

Think of cracked corn as a warm, comforting snack rather than a meal. Used wisely, it can play a big role in keeping chickens warm in winter.

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Cold Weather Chicken Tips

To recap, here are a few quick reminders for winter flock management:

• Increase calories and protein in chicken feed.
• Offer warm treats in the morning and cracked corn in the evening.
• Always provide grit for digestion.
• Supplement, but don’t replace, a balanced layer feed.

With the right feeding strategies, your flock will stay strong, productive, and resilient all winter long.

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Resources to Help Guide You

Below are some resources that I have found incredibly helpful:

1. Cracked Corn as a Healthy Winter Treat (in moderation)

• A blog from Dine-A-Chook explains that cracked corn is “a healthy treat for chickens, when fed in moderation as part of a balanced diet,” but emphasizes it should never be the main feed dineachook.com.au.

2. Cracked Corn for Energy and Warmth

• BackyardChickens.com highlights that cracked corn boosts energy and heat generation in cooler weather. It also encourages foraging behavior and links to the importance of grit for digestion BackYard Chickens.

3. Cracked Corn Raises Body Temperature Before Bed

• A guide from Get Strong Animals explains how cracked corn’s higher carbohydrate content requires effort to digest, which helps keep chickens warm overnight—and reiterates the need for grit and moderation Strong Animals.

4. Supplements to Keep a Flock Healthy in Winter

• Meyer Hatchery’s blog (October 2024) confirms that cracked corn helps keep chickens warm during winter by boosting metabolism. It also recommends other useful supplements like oyster shells, grit, black oil sunflower seeds, diatomaceous earth, and apple cider vinegar Meyer Hatchery Blog.

5. Balanced Winter Feeding: Carbs, Grit & Treats

• The Happy Chicken Coop guide advises feeding cracked corn in the last half-hour of daylight as a way to generate digestive heat overnight. It also covers how winter increases chickens’ carbohydrate needs, feeding amounts, grit importance, and feeding methods The Happy Chicken Coop.

6. Cracked Corn and Scratch for Digestion & Warmth

• An article on OrganicFeeds.com recommends cracked corn or scratch grains as evening treats to help chickens generate digestive heat before bedtime. It also reminds readers not to overfeed and to maintain balanced nutrition Nature’s Best Organic Feeds.