Quick answer: in winter, feed chickens the same complete layer feed (about 16% protein) they eat the rest of the year, keep it available all day, and expect them to eat up to 25% more. Add a small handful of scratch grains per 10 birds at bedtime, a little extra protein such as mealworms or black soldier fly larvae, some greens, free-choice grit and oyster shell, and always unfrozen water.
That is really the whole formula. Most winter feeding mistakes come from trying too hard: buckets of cracked corn, warm kitchen scraps every day, or “warming” treats that crowd out the feed hens actually need. My winter chicken care guide covers the coop side of things. This page goes deep on the food.
What Is the Best Food for Chickens in Winter?
The best winter food is a good commercial layer feed. It is built to be a complete diet, with about 16% protein and 3 to 4% calcium for strong eggshells, according to Oregon State University Extension’s guide to feeding laying hens. Rutgers recommends a 14 to 17% protein layer ration in winter so the birds are never without feed. Everything else on this page is an extra.
| Your flock | Winter base feed | Protein | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laying hens | Layer pellets or crumbles | 16% | Has the calcium they need for shells |
| Hens molting or just finished | All-flock or grower feed, plus oyster shell on the side | 18 to 20% | Feathers are mostly protein; switch back to layer when they start laying |
| Mixed flock with roosters, or hens not laying | All-flock feed, oyster shell on the side | 18 to 20% | Avoids feeding roosters extra calcium |
| Pullets not yet laying | Grower feed | 16 to 18% | Switch to layer at the first egg |
If you are not sure what any of these feeds are, I explain them all in the types of chicken feed.
How Much More Do Chickens Eat in Winter?
The University of Minnesota Extension says a flock’s feed intake may rise by up to 25% in cold weather (UMN Extension). A standard laying hen eats roughly ¼ pound of feed a day in mild weather, so in a cold snap that can climb toward ⅓ pound. There is less to forage, too, so free-range birds lean harder on the feeder.
Do not ration them. Keep the feeder full from morning to roosting and let them eat what they need. Here is how I work out how much to feed chickens per day for budgeting.
What to Feed Chickens in Winter to Keep Them Warm
A chicken’s main furnace is digestion. Breaking down food releases heat, so a hen that goes to roost with a full crop stays warmer through the night. That is why the old advice is to feed scratch grains or cracked corn in the late afternoon.
Does corn keep chickens warm?
Partly. Corn is energy-dense, and digesting it overnight does produce some body heat. But layer feed produces heat as it is digested too, and corn is not magic. The real problem with scratch is that it is mostly grain and low in protein, often under 10%. Fill a hen up on it and she eats less of the balanced feed she needs for feathers and eggs.
So I use scratch as a bedtime snack, not a meal. UMN Extension says to avoid more than a handful per 10 birds, and Oregon State suggests no more than they can clean up in about 20 minutes. Scatter it on the litter about an hour before dusk. The hens scratch for it, which turns the bedding, and they head to roost with something to digest. If you use the deep litter method, this does double duty.
Warm mash and oatmeal
On a bitter morning, a warm mash is a nice treat. Mix layer pellets or crumbles with warm (not hot) water until it is like damp oatmeal, or cook a small pot of plain oats. Serve it right away and pick up whatever is left within 30 minutes or so, before it freezes in the dish. Do not add salt, sugar or butter. Because the mash is made from their regular feed, it adds warmth and water without unbalancing the diet.
Fermented feed
Fermenting means soaking feed in dechlorinated water for two to four days until it smells pleasantly sour. Many keepers find hens waste less of it, and it adds moisture. In winter, keep the jar indoors, because fermentation stalls in the cold, and throw it out if it grows fuzzy mold or smells rotten. Serve only what they eat in one sitting so it does not freeze.
Protein for Chickens in Winter
Fall molt and winter overlap, and growing a whole new coat takes a lot of protein. If your hens look ragged or are growing pin feathers, give them a protein boost. These are the extras I reach for:
- Dried mealworms. Roughly half protein by weight, and hens go wild for them. A small handful for a few birds is plenty.
- Black soldier fly larvae. High in protein and naturally rich in calcium, so they suit laying hens well.
- Cooked eggs. Scrambled or hard-boiled and chopped. It is a great use for cracked eggs.
- Black oil sunflower seeds. Protein plus healthy fat, which helps with feather condition.
- A higher-protein feed. The simplest option. Switch the whole flock to an 18 to 20% all-flock feed during molt, with oyster shell on the side.
There are more ideas in high-protein foods for molting chickens, and the bigger picture in why chickens molt.
Greens for Chickens in Winter
When the yard is frozen, hens miss fresh plants. Oregon State notes greens help keep yolks a deep orange, and pecking at them keeps bored hens busy. A few easy winter options:
- Cabbage tetherball. Hang a whole cabbage on a string at head height. They peck at it for hours, and it keeps the greens off the dirty floor.
- Sprouts and fodder. Soak wheat, barley or oats overnight, rinse twice a day, and in about a week you have a green mat they love.
- Kale, chard and lettuce. Store-bought or from the cold frame. Here are the best greens for chickens.
- Winter squash and pumpkin. Halved, seeds and all.
Grit, Oyster Shell and Water
Grit. Chickens grind food in the gizzard with small stones. Under snow they cannot find any, and anything beyond pelleted feed, such as scratch or greens, needs grit to digest. UMN Extension recommends free access to poultry grit all winter. Oyster shell cannot replace grit, because it is too soft to grind. More in do chickens need grit?
Oyster shell. Offer it free-choice in a separate dish, never mixed into the feed. Hens that are laying take what they need, and hens that are not simply ignore it. It matters most if you give lots of treats or a non-layer feed.
Water. This is the part people forget is a feeding issue. Chickens drink two to three times as much water by weight as they eat in feed, and a hen without water soon stops eating. Frozen water quietly cuts feed intake right when they need more. My guide on how to keep chickens’ water from freezing has every method I know.
A Winter Feeding Schedule
Here is a simple daily routine that works for most backyard flocks.
| Time | What to give | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Morning, at first light | Fill feeder with layer feed; fresh, unfrozen water; optional warm mash on very cold days | Hens are hungriest after a long night on the roost |
| Midday | Check water; a cabbage, greens or a few mealworms | Refills water before it freezes and gives bored hens something to do |
| Late afternoon, about an hour before dusk | A handful of scratch per 10 birds scattered on the litter; top up feeder and water | A full crop at bedtime means more heat from digestion overnight |
| All day | Layer feed, grit and oyster shell free-choice | Lets each hen eat what she needs |
Treats for Chickens in Winter: Safe vs. Avoid
A common rule of thumb is to keep treats to about 10% of what a hen eats. Here is what I give in winter, and what stays out of the run.
| Safe winter treats | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Scratch grains or cracked corn (a handful per 10 birds) | Moldy bread, feed or leftovers |
| Dried mealworms or black soldier fly larvae | Avocado skin and pits |
| Plain cooked oatmeal | Raw or dried beans |
| Scrambled or hard-boiled eggs | Chocolate, candy and sugary baked goods |
| Cabbage, kale and other greens | Salty foods: chips, cured meats, salted butter |
| Pumpkin and winter squash, seeds included | Green or sprouting potato skins |
| Black oil sunflower seeds | Suet cakes made for wild birds, which are mostly fat and often salty |
The full list is in what chickens can’t eat.
What to Feed Chickens When They Stop Laying in Winter
Short days, not cold, are the main reason hens stop laying in winter. Penn State Extension notes laying drops or stops once days fall below about 12 hours (Penn State Extension). No food will fully override that, but the wrong diet can make it worse. If your hens have stopped:
- Check the treat load. Too much scratch, bread or corn lowers protein and is a common reason for a laying slump.
- If they are molting, go up to 18 to 20% protein. They will not lay until the new feathers are in.
- Keep oyster shell out. When laying resumes, they need it right away.
- Make sure the water never froze. A day or two without water can stop laying for a while.
Other causes, from broodiness to age, are in why hens stop laying eggs. Breed matters too, and some of the cold hardy chicken breeds keep laying better than others.
Budget Tips for Winter Feeding
- Stop the waste first. Hang the feeder at back height and use pellets rather than crumbles if your hens flick feed. Rodents in winter eat a surprising amount, so store feed in a metal can with a lid.
- Buy before the storms. Keep two to three weeks of feed on hand, but no more than you will use within a few months, so it stays fresh.
- Sprout cheap grain. A bag of whole wheat or barley turns into weeks of fresh greens.
- Use kitchen scraps wisely. Vegetable trimmings, squash and cooked oats are fine, but they are treats, not a replacement for feed.
- Raise your own protein. A mealworm bin in the basement is cheap to run and keeps going all winter.
For vet-level detail on poultry diets, the Merck Veterinary Manual’s backyard poultry section is a solid reference.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do you feed chickens in the winter?
Feed a complete layer feed with about 16% protein, available all day, plus free-choice grit, oyster shell and unfrozen water. Add a small handful of scratch grains per 10 birds in the late afternoon and some extra protein or greens as treats, keeping treats to about 10% of the diet.
What can I feed my chickens to keep them warm in winter?
Digestion produces heat, so the key is making sure hens go to roost with a full crop. Keep layer feed available until dusk and scatter a handful of scratch grains per 10 birds about an hour before bedtime. A warm mash of layer feed and warm water on cold mornings also helps.
Do chickens need more protein in winter?
Hens that are molting or just finished molting do, because new feathers are mostly protein. Switch to an 18 to 20% all-flock feed with oyster shell on the side, or add mealworms, black soldier fly larvae or cooked eggs. Laying hens that are not molting do fine on 16% layer feed.
Is cracked corn good for chickens in winter?
In small amounts. Corn is energy-dense and digesting it gives off some heat overnight, but it is low in protein. Too much crowds out balanced feed and can slow laying and feather regrowth. Stick to a handful per 10 birds at bedtime.
How much do chickens eat in winter?
UMN Extension says feed intake can rise by up to 25% in cold weather. A laying hen that eats about a quarter pound of feed a day in mild weather may eat closer to a third of a pound in a cold snap. Keep the feeder full rather than rationing.
Should I give my chickens oatmeal in winter?
Plain cooked oatmeal, served warm and not hot, is a safe winter treat. Do not add salt, sugar or butter, and remove leftovers before they freeze. Treat it as a snack, not a replacement for layer feed.
Can I feed my chickens wild bird suet in winter?
It is best avoided. Suet cakes are mostly fat and some contain salt or seeds coated in additives. Black oil sunflower seeds or mealworms are a better way to add fat and protein.
