Hypothermia in Chickens: How to Prevent and Treat It

If you have chickens of your own and have seen how they behave in the wintertime, you might well be under the impression that the cold doesn’t bother them at all. Chickens are indeed pretty stoic, and it’s true that most breeds do quite well even when the weather is below freezing…

But it’s also true that chickens can still get too cold, and when that happens, their health will suffer. Genuine hypothermia can even prove fatal!

This shouldn’t scare you away from keeping them if you live in a cold region or from letting them out of the coop in the wintertime. But you need to understand what hypothermia looks like in chickens, how to prevent it, and, most importantly, how to treat it should it occur.

I’ll tell you absolutely everything you need to know in this article…

How Much Cold Can Chickens Tolerate?

Chickens can withstand colder temperatures than most people think. The official answer is that chickens are fine as long as they are dry and temperatures are down to 30°F / -1°C.

In my experience, most breeds in good health will be good for hours in temps as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit as long as they’ve had plenty of food and have a warm shelter to retreat to after a time.

But variables do affect this. Very young or very old birds are more prone to suffering from lower temperatures, and those that get wet and are exposed to cold, especially in breezy or windy conditions, can start to suffer from hypothermia in as little as 30 minutes.

As a rule of thumb, once temperatures hit the mid-30s, you need to pay attention to the needs of your flock and be ready to act.

What Happens to Chickens That Go Hypothermic?

Chickens that get hypothermia will start to suffer from cold stress. Initially, this leads to discomfort, lack of activity, and poor performance.

Chronically cold chickens won’t grow as quickly, and adult hens will slow down on laying eggs or stop altogether, even if they are normally winter-productive…

Severe hypothermia will lead to a lowering of the metabolic rate and eventual organ failure, along with setting the stage for frostbite, which is especially devastating for chickens with large combs, wattles, and feathered feet.

If you are lucky, birds that go hypothermic will only experience a mild case and, with prompt attention from you, will recover pretty quickly…

Signs of Hypothermia in Chickens

One of your most important responsibilities as a keeper, especially if you homestead in a cold region or any place that has harsh winters, is learning to recognize signs of hypothermia.

Like I said above, chickens can be surprisingly stoic and might not give much sign that they are too cold. You’ve got to pay attention and be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

Puffing or Ruffling Feathers

For many chickens, this is the most obvious symptom. Some birds will puff up their feathers repeatedly, almost like they are taking deep breaths and inflating themselves. Others won’t take on a ruffled, unkempt look.

In both cases, they are trying to trap more warm air under their feathers to raise their body temperature. Chances are they are getting too cold!

Hunkering Down

When the temperatures plummet, most chickens start to
become less active and eventually hunker down

. If you notice
your chickens – normally active and exploring during the day – instead
settling down to rest on a perch

or even on the ground, they might be close to going hypothermic.

Clustering Together

Chickens normally spread out to explore, bathe or forage during the day but they will

instinctively cluster together when it gets really cold.
T

hey do this in

an attempt to share body heat and keep warm.



Anytime you see a “
clump”
of chickens in the run or out in your yard, you know for sure
they’re
much
too cold. Take action
!

“Flamingo” Posing

Another common sign of falling body temperature, but one that can be hard to spot.

Your birds might pull one leg up off of the ground, tucking their foot inside the envelope of their feathers. They do this to try and warm up their extremities and limit heat loss to the ground.

It is especially common on wet or snowy ground, and may indicate that a bird is heading toward frostbite. Act at once!

Unusually Quiet

You can’t always count on this symptom, but if you know your flock and your individual birds, you’ll be able to tell.

Although some chickens are noisier than others, most make a certain amount of noise. Clucking, cooing, crowing, and so forth.

If the flock is quieter than usual or making no noise at all in cold weather, you can bet they are already quite chilled.

Is One of Your Birds Hypothermic? Here’s What to Do

Keep chickens long enough in most places, and chances are you’ll need to help out a bird that has gotten too cold.

Anytime one of your yardbirds seems to be sluggish and out of it, do the following in order:

Dry the Chicken Immediately, If Wet

Wet chickens are invariably hypothermic chickens when air temperatures are low. Whether it’s from snow, snow melt, rain, or just condensation, you’ve got to quickly but gently and thoroughly dry off the bird.

Bring into Warm, Draft-Free Space

Immediately get the chicken out of the cold and move it to a warm space, including inside your own home if needed. Keep small children, pets, bright lights, and loud noises away to avoid stressing them out because they are in a vulnerable state.

Room temperature is fine, anywhere from 70°F to 75°F (around 22 °C).

Loosely Wrap in Warm, Dry Towels or Blankets

Grab a clean, dry, fluffy towel or small blanket. The more insulating the better. Gently wrap the affected bird with a towel or blanket in the manner of a cloak or poncho.

Don’t roll them up like a burrito and don’t unduly restrain them, perhaps causing panic which will lead to life-threatening stress under the circumstances.

If the chicken seems mostly okay, give it a few minutes and try to keep them calm, and you should notice it recovering over time. For badly chilled birds, or ones that seem out of it after 15 to 20 minutes of being wrapped up, proceed to the next step.

Use Space Heater or Hair Dryer to Blow Warm Air Over Chicken

Grab something like a hair dryer – one that’s temperature-adjustable and has a fan. Turn on the appliance, set it to low heat and gentle air, and then direct it over the chicken. Try to blow the air between them and the towel or blanket.

This will quickly, but gently, warm up even a badly chilled bird in just 5 to 10 minutes. If this still doesn’t work or if the chicken’s condition is deteriorating, contact your vet right away for guidance.

DO NOT Dip a Chicken in Warm Water!

A precaution by way of a warning: no matter how chilled your chicken is, no matter how desperate the situation seems, never, ever dip the chicken in warm water or pour warm water over them.

This will cause massive temperature shock that can be fatal, or cause other complications besides. Even for birds that are in a bad way, this is just too risky. Follow the steps I outlined just above and hope for the best.

Stop Your Birds from Getting Too Cold With These Tips

If you haven’t guessed by now, the best cure for hypothermia is to prevent it in the first place. It’s easier than you think if you implement the following procedures on your homestead.

Keep Chickens Dry

I mentioned above that wet chickens go hypothermic very, very quickly. More than anything else, keep your birds dry. Make sure they have overhead cover to retreat into if it starts raining, sleeting, or snowing too heavily.

Likewise, pay attention to wet or moist soil: make sure they have purchased and other raised places where they can get up off of it and get dry.

Keep Feet and Feathers Clean

Dirty birds have a harder time maintaining their body temperature because their feathers lose insulation value.

Ensure that your chickens still have access to a dust bath even when it’s cold outside and there is snow on the ground. A portable one made from a garbage can lid or large tray can work wonders.

Similarly, keep their feet clean and free of mud, feces, and other dirt to help prevent frostbite. This is especially critical for breeds with feathered legs and feet.

Provide Enough Roosts

Heat rises, and inside the coop, it will be warmer up off of the ground, leading most birds to try and roost a little bit higher when they’re resting or sleeping. Make sure there are plenty of roost bars to accommodate all of your birds.

Keep Water Liquid and Fresh

Dehydration means hypothermia will take hold quicker! No matter what it takes, stay on top of providing your flock with clean, liquid water, and if you are up to it, haul warm water to them or use heated watering stations to help them keep their temperature up just that little bit more.

Give Extra Food

Chickens are like all birds in that they rely predominantly on their high metabolisms to serve as a sort of furnace for keeping them warm.

When temperatures drop, this metabolic furnace goes into overdrive and starts burning more fuel to generate more heat. Chickens need extra food during prolonged periods of cold weather in order to stay warm.

A good rule of thumb is to give them anywhere from an extra 15% to 25% calories daily depending on their activity level and the temperature. Also, look into high-calorie “warming feeds” like corn to help give them a boost and reduce stress during these times.

Keep Coop and Other Spaces Insulated and Free of Drafts

This is a biggie. Your chickens will stay toasty warm inside their coop even when temperatures are as low as 0°F / -17°C so long as it doesn’t leak and is protected from drafts.

Bust out the caulking gun and the flashing to get rid of any cracks and crevices that let cool air come seeping in at the bottom, but make sure you still provide adequate ventilation at the top to let out ammonia vapor and moisture.

If you live in a bitterly cold region, you’ll probably need to insulate the coop also to give the birds a little help.

Optimize Internal Space in Coop

Another coop pro tip for helping the flock keep warm: make sure your coop, or any other shelter the chickens use, is comfortably packed and cozy.

If the coop has a surplus of internal space, it will be harder for a smaller number of birds to keep it warm. If it’s at maximum capacity, it will be downright toasty inside even when the temperatures outside are frigid.

Likewise, if you have to temporarily shelter your chickens in a shed, barn, or any other larger structure, consider making them a microclimate by installing a lower ceiling; this will help trap more hot air around them. Don’t forget to ensure adequate ventilation!

Set Up Supplemental Heat if Needed

Sometimes, for whatever reason, your birds might need a little extra help from you to stay warm enough. You can use heat lamps, infrared heaters, oil radiant heaters, and similar devices to keep a coop much warmer than it would be under the circumstances.

But there are major caveats with this approach: any heating system you choose must be chicken-proof with protected cords, and it must be rated for safe use in a chicken coop to prevent a devastating fire.

Heat lamps are a common choice, but they’re also a common cause of fire, so use them carefully and make sure they can’t fall.

Choose Cold-Tolerant Breeds

Last but not least, if you are starting or expanding your flock and you live in a cold region, pick cold-hardy breeds: Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Chanteclers, Orpingtons, Ameraucanas, and others are all heavy, stocky birds with thick feathers that can easily repel the cold.

Smaller breeds, or breeds with very large combs and wattles, are disproportionately vulnerable. That doesn’t mean they can’t be kept successfully and safely in cold conditions, but you’ll have to keep a closer eye on them.