How to Keep Your Animals Warm in the Winter

By Lindsay Metternich | Harmony Helpers

Winter on the homestead is no joke.The mornings are frosty, the waterers are frozen, and the animals… well, they still need you.

Whether you're caring for chickens, goats, rabbits, or backyard pets, the cold months can be challenging—but also deeply rewarding. Watching your animals stay safe, dry, and content while snow falls softly outside? It’s a kind of peace you can’t buy at the store.

But keeping animals warm doesn’t mean you need heat lamps or fancy equipment (in fact, sometimes those do more harm than good).What you do need is a little planning, a bit of common sense, and a whole lot of straw.

Let’s walk through the basics of keeping your animals safe and cozy all winter long.

🧭 Step One: Understand What They Actually Need

Animals don’t need to be warm like we do.They need to be:

• Dry

• Out of the wind

• Protected from drafts

• Well-fed and hydrated

If you can give them those four things, you’re more than halfway there.

🐔 Chickens

Chickens are tougher than people give them credit for.

🐣 What They Need:

• Draft-free coop with ventilation

• Deep bedding (pine shavings or straw)

• Roosts off the ground

• Water that won’t freeze solid

No heat lamp needed. In fact, heat lamps are a fire hazard and can cause temperature shock if they fail.

✅ Pro Tip: Use the deep litter method—add fresh bedding on top all winter. It breaks down, generates heat, and saves you from weekly coop cleanouts.

🧊 Prevent Frozen Water:

• Use a heated waterer

• Or place water inside the coop (if not too messy)

• Swap out twice a day if needed

🐐 Goats

Goats hate being wet. They also love to snuggle.

🐐 What They Need:

• Draft-free, dry shelter

• Extra bedding (deep straw is best)

• Hay 24/7 for digestion-based heat

• Minerals and fresh water

Goats grow a thick undercoat in winter, so they don’t need coats unless they're sick, very old, or newborn.

✅ Pro Tip: Place a rubber mat under straw to help insulate against cold ground. And make sure shelters are closed on at least three sides.

🐇 Rabbits

Rabbits can tolerate cold very well—but they hate wind and wet.

🐇 What They Need:

• Dry hutch, raised off the ground

• Straw bedding (not blankets—they can’t digest fabric if chewed)

• Windbreaks or tarps if housed outdoors

• Extra hay to burrow in

✅ Pro Tip: If you’re in extreme cold, consider bringing hutches into a garage or barn overnight.

🐾 Dogs & Cats (Outdoor or Barn)

Not all pets are meant to be outside in the winter. But if yours are, make sure they have:

• Insulated dog house or shelter (elevated, wind-blocked)

• Straw bedding (blankets can freeze when damp)

• Unfrozen water (heated bowls or frequent refills)

• High-fat food for energy

✅ Pro Tip: Never use electric heaters inside enclosed pet spaces. Use straw and structure over plug-in fixes.

❄️ Bonus Tips for All Animals

1. Extra Calories = Extra Warmth

Cold animals burn more energy. Add alfalfa, black oil sunflower seeds, or cracked corn as evening snacks.

2. Check Water Constantly

Hydration helps with digestion and body temp. Frozen water = health risk.

3. Block Wind, Not Airflow

Ventilation prevents ammonia buildup and respiratory issues.You want fresh air, not drafts.

4. Do Daily Checks

Look for signs of frostbite (pale combs, ears, tails), dehydration, and unusual behavior.

🧡 Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Safe

You don’t have to build heated barns or spend a fortune on gadgets.Nature designed most animals to handle winter—we just have to help them do it safely.

Keep them dry. Keep them out of the wind.Feed them well. Show up every day.

They’ll reward you with warm eggs, nuzzles in the snow, and a deep sense of connection that doesn’t melt with the seasons.

Stay warm out there,— Lindsay