Farm & Flock— presented by Chicken Whisperer Magazine Nourish Your Flock

By Alexandra Doss, Stellar Game Birds, Poultry, Waterfowl LLC

Although chickens do not necessarily need an entirely new winter menu, seasonal changes can affect how much they eat and how their bodies use that nutrition.

Even here in Florida, winter changes the rhythm of the farm. Pastures grow more slowly, insects become less plentiful, daylight hours decrease, and egg production may drop. In colder regions, chickens also use additional energy to maintain their body temperature. Understanding these changes can help you support your flock without overcomplicating its diet.

A Balanced Feed Comes First

The foundation of a flock’ s winter diet should always be a complete poultry feed formulated for the birds’ age and purpose. A balanced feed provides the protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals chickens require in the correct proportions.

Chicks and young birds need a starter or grower ration. Laying hens need adequate protein and calcium to support egg production. Mixed flocks containing hens, roosters, and birds of different ages may benefit from an all-flock feed, with oyster shell provided separately for laying hens.

During colder weather, chickens may naturally consume more feed. Their bodies burn energy to remain warm, particularly at night and during prolonged cold spells. Keeping feeders filled and accessible allows birds to adjust their intake according to their needs.

This is also why treats should not replace a balanced ration. Chickens may eagerly eat scratch grains, bread, or kitchen scraps, but enjoying a food does not mean it provides complete nutrition. When birds fill up on treats, they consume less of the feed that supplies the nutrients necessary for feather growth, immune function, and egg production.

A mixed flock gathers for a winter meal. During cold weather, chickens may consume more feed as their bodies use additional energy to stay warm, making a balanced ration and reliable access to fresh water especially important. Photo courtesy of The Geeky Homestead located in Missouri.

Supporting Birds Through the Molt

Many chickens molt during the fall or early winter. During this process, old feathers are shed and replaced with new ones. Because feathers are primarily composed of keratin, a type of protein, growing a new set places significant nutritional demands on the bird.

Molting chickens may appear rough, lose some body condition, become quieter, or temporarily stop laying. Egg production commonly decreases because the body redirects nutrients toward feather growth.

A quality feed with an appropriate protein level is often sufficient. During a particularly heavy molt, some flock owners temporarily transition to a higher-protein ration. Small amounts of cooked egg, mealworms, black soldier fly larvae, or plain cooked meat can also provide supplemental protein.

However, adding more protein is not always better. Supplements should complement the primary diet rather than replace it. A bird cannot live on mealworms alone, regardless of how enthusiastically she may disagree.

Scratch Grains & Cold Weather

Offering scratch grain on a cold evening is a familiar winter practice.

Grain provides carbohydrates, and the process of eating and digesting it can contribute to heat production. Scattering a small amount in clean bedding also encourages chickens to scratch and forage when winter weather limits their normal activity.

Still, scratch grain is a treat rather than a nutritionally

6 AcreageLife October 2026 AcreageLife. com