How To Keep Eggs From Freezing In The Winter

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Get tips on how to keep eggs from freezing in the winter so you can enjoy crack-free eggs all winter long. If you live in a cold climate, you may worry about the eggs from your backyard chickens freezing, if so this guide will help.

Use them to help fill your kitchen with amazing farm-fresh eggs no matter how cold it gets. One of the benefits of raising chickens is the eggs, so do what you can to get the best.

When we began homesteading, one of the first things we added was a chicken coop full of chickens. There is nothing quite as rewarding than cracking open a fresh egg. The yolks are brighter, the taste is better and know you have a supply coming in of these amazing eggs daily is a great feeling.

It’s true that eggs are plentiful in the coop when the weather is warm, but when things cool down so do the eggs.

Do chickens lay eggs in the winter?

It’s true that many hens stop or slow down egg production during the fall and winter. 

This due more to the amount of light during the day than the colder temperatures both inside and outside of the coop.

To help your chickens continue to lay consistently, you can put a light inside of the coop to give them more light encouraging them to lay each day. If you don’t have electric in your coop, you can purchase solar lights that work really well to keep a coop lit up after dark.

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It’s not the cold that slows down egg production so much for a hen, as it’s the amount of daylight.

Protecting Eggs in the winter

When the weather gets cold so does the coop. And even though your hens are built to handle the weather, their eggs are not.

These tips are things I learned over the years of raising backyard chickens and they will help you to protect your eggs until you are able to collect them.

two frozen and cracked farm fresh eggs

It happens to the best of us.

We need to go out to the coop and collect the eggs, but it is just so darn cold and our home is so nice and toasty. So, instead, we delay trudging out into the snow, enjoying the warmth just a bit longer.

Later, when we do head out into the chicken coop, we are greeted with less than perfect eggs in the coop. Some may be frozen, and others cracked from being in the cold too long.

Frustrating, yes, but not the end of the world. Or the egg for that matter.

Before we talk about what you can do with frozen eggs from the chicken coop, let’s first talk about tips on how to keep those eggs from freezing in the first place. 

How To Keep Eggs From Freezing in the Winter

No matter how cold it is where you are, there are a few things you can do to keep your chicken’s eggs from freezing.

Pick and choose the best tips for you for where you live and please be sure to put safety first and foremost when choosing. 

eggs in a winter chicken coop

Tip # 1.  Insulate the Nesting Boxes

The very best way to keep farm fresh eggs from freezing is to create a space that is warm and sheltered from the outside elements.

This includes both the coop and the nesting boxes. When things cool down, you will want to fill each box with extra bedding to keep that small area warmer.

Nesting Box Insulation Options

  1. Straw – Straw works well but can be a bit hard and uncomfortable for the chickens.
  2. Hay – We prefer hay because it is warm and softer more like grass.
  3. Purchased – You can also purchase wood shavings to fill each box for more warmth.
  4. Combination – A combination will give you soft and warm, allowing you to make a cozy nest for your hens to lay in.
Nesting boxes stuffed with fresh straw. A way to keep eggs from freezing in winter

How it Works:

  1. Fill each nesting box with bedding overstuffing it if you are able.
  2. Your hens will pack it down as they use it making a warm and cozy nest to lay in.
  3. Every day or so, add more bedding to keep the box insulated from the cold.

You can see our milk crate nesting boxes for a great DIY option for your coop.

When things get cold, chickens will often use the same nesting box to lay their eggs. This is a good thing because multiple eggs have a better chance of staying warm together over one egg in a box all alone.

How does a straw in a nesting box keep a chicken’s eggs from freezing? 

The straw helps to keep the egg from freezing by insulating it from the frigid air allowing the natural warmth of the egg to remain.

This is just a temporary fix, however, and not one you cannot completely rely on for a full day, especially if you live in northern areas. 

You will want to keep an eye on the straw and replenish it as needed. The more a box gets used, the more the straw will be kicked out or compressed down.

Don’t worry about filling a box too much with bedding because if there is too much straw, your chickens will kick the excess out onto the floor. This will, in turn, put a warm coating over the frigid floor, giving extra insulation to your coop.

Either way, the straw you added is serving a purpose. 

Midlife Tip – Use a Chore Shed

If you live in a snowy area, it can be tricky bringing all the supplies you need each time you do chores. To help make things easier, you may want to try a sled.

I just purchased this utility sled online, and I love it! I am now able to bring everything I need with me on one trip and no longer have to walk back and forth for all of my feeding supplies.

Utility sled with water, chicken feed and fresh hay for the chicken coop that is in the background

This is one of those purchases that I do not regret even today. You can find this and more midlife tools on my list of favorite homesteading supplies here.

Tip # 2.  Keep Your Chicken Coop Draft Free

This is an important step even if you do not live in a frigid winter zone because it can help your entire flock be healthy and hardy in the poor weather.

Drafts can cause respiratory issues in your flock that can be deadly if you are not careful. The best way to prevent sickness is to find drafts in the coop and close them up.

How it Works:

  1. Put this task on your fall prep list to ensure it gets done before the bad weather hits.
  2. Walk your coop and look for areas where drafts can get inside.
  3. Use boards or insulation to close each area up.
  4. Be sure to inspect your air vent and clean it to remove any dust or debris.
  5. Air vents bring in fresh air high in the coop that will keep the inside smelling fresh and clean.

SLCG Pro Tip: Set up a fall coop checklist of everything you need to finish before winter hits. By doing a yearly coop inspection. you will catch any issues before they become a major problem.

winter set up of a chicken coop inside

Bonus Tip:

While you are checking the coop, take a look at your outside run as well. Do you have problems with wind and drifting? If so, you can use tarps to add protection for your flock.

This added protection will make it easier for your chickens to get outside into the fresh air. Even in the cold, your chickens will like to go outside; by giving them a protected area, they will be more comfortable outdoors.

If you do add a tarp, I suggest hanging it on the side that takes the brunt of the winds. For more tips, read our guide on How to Prepare Your Chicken Coop for Winter.

Tip #3.  Keep Your Nesting Boxes on the Warmest Wall

Most of us already know which direction the winds blow in our particular area, and this information can help you protect your eggs.

How it works:

  1. Set up your chicken coop so the door is away from the wind.
  2. Place your nesting boxes on the warmest wall in the coop.

By placing your nesting boxes on a wall that will get the least of the winds and as far from the coop door as you can you will give your chickens a bit of warmth as well as their fragile eggs.

You can also put your nesting boxes on the east side to take advantage of the sun in the morning because even in the winter, the sun is surprisingly warm. Use Mother Nature to help you heat things a bit more. 

If you have a small coop, then you may not have room to keep your boxes far from the door, if that is the case then at the very least choose the wall furthest from the cold winds.

Even these small tips can make a big difference in the warmth of your chicken coop.

a duck and two chickens out in the snow

Tip #4.  Add Curtains to Windows

If you have windows in your coop, then consider adding curtains to keep the drafts out.

You might be amazed at how much this helps with the cold. Windows can be very drafty and even though we do want ventilation we do not want drafts.

How it works:

  1. Hang a few thick curtains over your windows and keep the coop warmer.
  2. You can make curtains with any leftover material.
  3. Reuse what you have, such as a sweatshirt, old bath towels, or even blue jeans.
  4. Cut out a square of fabric that is several inches larger than the window and nail it into place.

If you find you have a heavy draft coming in through the outside of your windows you may need to do some repair work to help seal things up a bit more. 

Bonus tip:

Take this tip one step further and add curtains to your nesting boxes. You can hang them on the sides of the box opening tying them back on the sides.

Just this small bit can make a big difference in the coop.

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Don’t worry that your chickens will stop using a box after you put a curtain on, they will quickly learn they are still able to get inside and will even prefer boxes with curtains on the front.

Tip # 5.  Collect Eggs More Often

One of the easiest ways to keep eggs from freezing is to collect them before they do.

If you have had your chickens for a long time, you have a good idea of when they lay their eggs. My hens tend to lay their eggs from late morning to early afternoon.

In the winter I like to go out at 11 am and then again at 3 pm to collect eggs. The second collection is important especially on very cold days.

Eggs can freeze quickly and by adding a second collection time you can lessen the frequency of frozen and cracked eggs. 

4 black chickens on a bed or hay in the winter snow

How it Works:

  1. Visit your coop every few hours and check for eggs.
  2. Make a note of when you find eggs in the nesting boxes.
  3. The times you record will give you a starting point for creating a collecting routine for the winter.

Tip # 5. Bring in artificial Heat 

Another option is to bring in artificial heat, and you have a few options. Just know that these tips do come with a risk, and you will want to proceed with caution and care.

Disclaimer: Heat lamps are dangerous and one of the biggest causes of fires in barns and coops so please proceed with caution.

Heat Lamps

Before we dive into heat lamps, let me first say that these things are dangerous, and you must do this at your own risk. Just last week, there was a fire in a chicken coop that destroyed the coop and the attached garage. So, please be sure to proceed with caution. 

A heat lamp is a light and bulb that is specifically made to produce heat. You will need an electric source in your coop for this. Please know that an extension cord is absolutely not a safe option.

If you do have electricity inside of your chicken coop and choose to use a heat lamp, be sure to use every safety measure you can.

Heat lamps get hot, very hot, and since the coop is filled with dry, brittle straw or hay, one touch can quickly mean disaster.

I am not saying this to scare you; I just want you to be fully and completely aware of the risks involved, be sure to take every precaution if you choose to use lamps to heat your coop. 

How it Works:

  1. Hang a heat lamp in a central area of the coop so the chickens do not fly and accidentally knock the heat lamp to the ground.
  2. Double-secure the light with chains and zip ties to keep the hot lamp securely in place.
  3. Check the lamp daily so you can catch issues before they cause a problem.

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woman holding a pile of farm fresh chicken eggs

Chicken Coop Heater

A portable coop heater is a newer option that seems to be a bit safer however, I have never seen one in person or used one myself.

Again, you will need electricity in your coop to use this since an extension cord is not safely recommended. 

Depending on the size of your coop, you may need two of these, but from what I have heard and read they seem to work surprisingly well. 

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Heated Chicken Mat

You can also try a heated chicken mat, but since it is a floor mat, I am not sure how much it will help to keep eggs from freezing.

Your chicken’s feet will be cozy but not necessarily the eggs.

Again, this is not something I have tried, so you will want to do a bit of research before purchasing. 

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Bonus Tip:

We have used heat lamps before, and one close call almost burnt down our barn. Because of this, we no longer use them in our chicken coop, even when the temperatures plummet to below zero. For us, the risk of fire is too risky to mess with.

Instead, we prefer to acclimatize our flock to the cold naturally and trust that their bodies can adapt and adjust as the temperatures get colder. 

a flock of chickens standing on bales os hay in a winter coop

To keep the coop warm, we also use the deep litter method, a natural way to insulate the coop, keeping it warm and cozy throughout the winter.

Learn more about How to Use the Deep Litter Method in the Chicken Coop.

What to do with frozen chicken eggs

So, now that we have covered a few ways to keep eggs from freezing, what can we do if our eggs are already frozen? 

In the winter, chicken eggs can freeze in just 3 hours, so it is only natural that we will all encounter a few frozen eggs in our chicken-raising lifetime. 

There are a few things to know about the safety of eating farm fresh eggs, and I encourage you to educate yourself fully.

How it Works:

  1. Remove any dirt from the egg and inspect for any cracks.
  2. Thaw by placing eggs in a bowl and placing them inside the refrigerator. This will allow the eggs to thaw slowly and prevent other cracks from happening.
  3. Before using eggs for you or your family, check them again for any cracks.
  4. Once it is thawed, the best way to eat the egg is to hard boil it.

What if the egg is cracked?

Any time you find a cracked egg, it is good practice not to eat it yourself. Cracks risk compromising the integrity of the egg, and it is not recommended for human consumption.

You can, however, give cracked eggs to other animals on your homestead.

#1  Feed Them (Cooked) Back to the flock

Eggs are an amazing source of protein and great for chickens. You can feed them to your flock every week to give them a warm meal on a cold morning.

Be sure to cook the eggs before you give them to your flock so you do not run the risk of your chickens developing a taste for raw eggs. 

chickens eating a bowl of scrambled eggs. How to keep eggs from freezing in the winter.

SLCG Pro Tip:  You can add herbs to your eggs to create a healthy treat for your hens as well. I love this recipe for chicken egg casserole from Timber Creek Farm, and my hens do too! 

#2 Feed Them to Other Livestock 

If you have pigs, they love to eat eggs and will eat them cooked or raw.

  1. Scramble up a few eggs and toss them in a bowl for a warm treat.
  2. Feed whole eggs to your pigs, and they will eat them, shell and all.

Warm eggs on a cold morning is a treat both people and animals enjoy. 

a chicken sitting on an egg

Providing our animals with a warm, dry shelter will keep the flock healthy and protect any eggs from the cold weather.

Keep your flock happy by giving them a solid draft-free chicken coop, placing nesting boxes on a warm wall, adding extra insulation to each box, and frequently eggs. These tips are easy to do and will help you to have fresh, crack-free eggs all winter long.

MORE CHICKEN RESOURCES: 

How to Protect Eggs from Freezing This Winter

collect eggs more often to keep eggs from freezing in the winter

These easy tips will help you keep your eggs warm and protected.

Materials

  • Straw or Bedding
  • Wood Planks
  • Thick Curtains or Heavy Fabric
  • Heat Lamps (optional)
  • Coop Heater or Heated Mats (optional)
  • Egg Collection Basket

Tools

  • Hammer for repairing parts of the coop
  • Nails or Hooks to secure wood planks or hang curtains.
  • Zip Ties or Chains to safely secure heat lamps (if using)

Instructions

  1. Pack the nesting boxes with straw or bedding to protect eggs from freezing. This insulation can help maintain the egg's natural warmth.
  2. Make sure that your chicken coop is free of drafts. Inspect and repair walls, ceilings, and floors.
  3. Place the nesting boxes on a wall that gets the least exposure to cold winds. You can also place them on the east side to take advantage of the sun.
  4. Hang thick curtains over windows to reduce drafts and help maintain warmth.
  5. Collect eggs more frequently during winter, ideally twice a day. By doing so, you can prevent eggs from freezing, especially on really cold days.
  6. Use heat lamps, coop heaters, heated mats, and other heat sources cautiously, as they can pose fire risks.

Notes

  • Place rubber or foam mats on the floor to add an extra layer of insulation.
  • Stack hay bales or use fencing around the coop to create a natural windbreak.

Recommended Products

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keep eggs from freezing

One Comment

  1. I get asked this all the time too and these are some really great, real world tips! Thanks for sharing with us at the Homestead Blog Hop, please come back again soon!

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