Seasonal Flock Care: Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter
Chickens are remarkably adaptable, but each season brings its own set of challenges and opportunities. A little seasonal preparation goes a long way toward keeping your flock healthy, productive, and comfortable year-round.
🌱 Spring
Spring is the most exciting time of year for flock owners — days are getting longer, hens are ramping back up to full production, and if you're adding new birds, this is the season to do it.
Spring Checklist
- Deep clean the coop — Remove all old bedding, scrub surfaces, and let the coop air out before adding fresh shavings. Winter moisture breeds bacteria and mold.
- Inspect for damage — Check hardware cloth, latches, roost bars, and nesting boxes for winter wear. Repair anything before predator season heats up.
- Check for mites and lice — Parasites thrive as temperatures warm. Inspect birds under wings and around the vent. Treat proactively if needed.
- Add new pullets — Spring is the ideal time to expand your flock. Our Golden Comet pullets are available for spring pickup — they'll be laying within weeks of arrival.
- Refresh oyster shell and grit — Restock free-choice supplements as production increases.
- Watch for broody behavior — Longer days can trigger broodiness in some hens. A broody hen stops laying and monopolizes nesting boxes.
☀️ Summer
Heat is the biggest challenge of summer. Chickens handle cold far better than heat — temperatures above 90°F can cause heat stress, reduced laying, and in extreme cases, death.
Summer Checklist
- Provide shade — Make sure your run has shaded areas throughout the day. Tarps, shade cloth, or natural tree cover all work.
- Fresh cold water, multiple times a day — Hens drink significantly more in heat. Add ice to waterers during heat waves. Consider multiple water stations.
- Increase ventilation — Open coop vents fully. Add a fan if temperatures are extreme. Airflow is critical.
- Offer cooling treats — Frozen watermelon, cucumber slices, and cold berries help hens cool down and stay hydrated.
- Avoid feeding scratch in hot weather — Scratch grains generate body heat during digestion. Reduce or eliminate during heat waves.
- Watch for heat stress signs — Panting with open beak, wings held away from body, lethargy. Move affected birds to a cool area immediately.
- Expect reduced laying — Heat stress suppresses egg production. This is normal and temporary.
🍂 Fall
Fall signals a major shift for your flock. Days shorten, temperatures drop, and most hens will begin their annual molt. Production will slow — plan for it.
Fall Checklist
- Expect the molt — Feather loss and reduced laying are normal. Increase protein in the diet to support feather regrowth. See our full guide: Molting: What It Is and How to Support Your Flock →
- Prep the coop for winter — Add wind protection (plastic sheeting on the north and west sides), check insulation, and ensure ventilation is still adequate at the top.
- Stock up on feed and bedding — Don't get caught short in bad weather. Have at least 2–4 weeks of supplies on hand.
- Consider supplemental lighting — If you want to maintain production through winter, add a timer-controlled LED bulb to bring total light to 14–16 hours/day. Start before days get too short.
- Treat for parasites — Fall is a good time for a preventive treatment before birds spend more time in close quarters.
❄️ Winter
Chickens are more cold-hardy than most people expect. A healthy, well-fed hen with proper wind protection can handle temperatures well below freezing without a heat source. The goal in winter is dry, draft-free, and well-ventilated — not warm.
Winter Checklist
- Never use a heat lamp — This is a serious fire hazard and not necessary for healthy adult hens. Proper wind protection is all they need.
- Ventilation is still critical — Moisture from breath and droppings causes frostbite and respiratory illness. Keep vents open at the top of the coop even in cold weather.
- Check water twice daily — Waterers freeze quickly. A heated base or heated waterer is a worthwhile investment. Hens that can't drink will stop laying within 24 hours.
- Deep litter method — Allow bedding to build up through winter (add fresh layers on top). The composting action generates gentle heat from below and keeps the coop warmer naturally.
- Feed scratch in the evening — A small amount of scratch grains before roosting gives hens something to digest overnight, which generates body heat. This is the one time scratch earns its keep.
- Watch for frostbite — Large-combed breeds are most susceptible. Apply petroleum jelly to combs and wattles in extreme cold. Ensure the coop is dry — moisture causes frostbite more than cold alone.
- Expect lower production — Without supplemental light, most hens will lay significantly less in winter. This is natural and gives their bodies a rest.
Year-Round Basics
Regardless of season, these fundamentals never change:
- Fresh water always available
- Quality layer feed as the foundation of the diet
- Clean, dry bedding
- Weekly visual health checks on each bird
- Secure coop locked at night