How We Raise Our Chickens in the Winter
How We Raise Our Chickens in the Winter
Now that the weather is starting to turn colder we have moved our birds inside. While our winter setup for raising meat chickens looks quite different from the summer, our core values remain unchanged. Our priority is always the health, happiness, and well-being of our birds. They are raised in a low-stress environment, fed certified organic feed, and allowed to express their natural behaviors. As always, our chickens are Certified Organic and Certified Humane.
Our winter chickens, laying hens and turkeys are raised inside warm, spacious barns. Alberta winters can bring rapid and extreme temperature swings. By raising our winter flocks indoors, we’re able to maintain a stable and comfortable environment. Chicks need extra warmth in their early days, and as they grow, we gradually reduce the temperature to match their needs. Our barns are equipped with fans and fresh air vents to keep air moving and ensure a constant supply of clean, fresh air.
Our barns are designed to make the most of natural light, with windows that let in the winter sunshine. On bright days, you’ll often see the chickens basking in sunbeams streaming through the windows. To support them on darker, cloudy days or during long winter nights, we use supplemental lighting that mimics a natural summer day. We never manipulate light to force faster growth. We believe in letting the birds grow at their own healthy pace.
We use a generous layer of natural wood shavings as bedding to keep the birds clean, dry, and comfortable. These shavings have no additives and allow the chickens to scratch, dig, and settle in as they would naturally.
To ensure our chickens get their greens year round including during the snowy months, we add certified organic alfalfa, alfalfa grass harvested at peak nutrition and dried, to their feed. With plenty of feeder space, every bird has access to food whenever they’re hungry. We also provide multiple waterers, switching to a nipple watering system in the winter. This setup ensures fresh, clean water, promotes dry bedding, and is water-efficient—good for the birds and the environment.
Our winter-raised chickens receive the same level of care, attention, and respect as our summer-raised outdoor flocks. So whether you're enjoying our chicken in the summer or the middle of winter, you can be confident it came from a healthy, well-cared-for bird.
Your Farmers, Ron & Sheila
- Sunworks Farm
