Winter Looks Different Everywhere

When we say "winter poultry management," we aren't only talking about snow.

Winter in Maine looks very different from winter in Florida, Oklahoma, Alaska, or the Southwest—and poultry management should reflect those differences.

Depending on where you live, seasonal challenges may include prolonged freezing temperatures, sudden cold snaps, heavy snow, freezing rain, wet and muddy conditions, shorter daylight hours, strong winds, dramatic temperature fluctuations, changes in predator activity, or shifts in available forage and nutrition.

Throughout the series, we'll discuss the why behind seasonal poultry management and explore strategies that can be adapted to your birds, your operation, your climate, and your region.

Wherever you raise poultry in the United States, this series is for you.

2026 WEBINAR SCHEDULE

October 6: Poultry Nutrition #1: Using Pumpkins

Fall brings pumpkins—and plenty of questions about whether they belong in the poultry yard.

We'll explore pumpkins as a seasonal addition to your flock's diet, including their nutritional value, appropriate feeding practices, what different parts of the pumpkin provide, and how pumpkins fit into an overall balanced poultry diet.

We'll also tackle some of the common claims and myths surrounding pumpkins and poultry so you can separate useful nutritional information from seasonal folklore.

Topics include:

• Nutritional value of pumpkins

• Safe feeding practices

• Seeds, flesh, skin, and other considerations

• Treats versus complete nutrition

• Common pumpkin and poultry myths

• Incorporating seasonal foods responsibly

October 20: Winterizing Your Flock Before the Snow Falls

Preparing for winter—or your region's version of it—starts before challenging weather arrives.

Learn how to evaluate your poultry housing and management systems for colder temperatures, precipitation, wind, changing daylight, and seasonal weather fluctuations.

From ventilation and bedding to water systems and emergency planning, we'll walk through practical steps you can take now to prepare your flock for the months ahead.

Topics include:

• Coop and shelter preparation

• Ventilation versus drafts

• Bedding and moisture management

• Winter water systems

• Feed storage

• Cold-weather equipment

• Regional weather considerations

• Preparing for storms and extreme weather

• Developing a seasonal management plan

November 3: Healthy Hens in Cold Weather: Winter Poultry Health & First Aid

Seasonal changes can introduce new health challenges and make existing problems harder to manage.

Learn what to watch for as temperatures, daylight, moisture, activity, and flock behavior change throughout the colder months.

We'll discuss prevention, early recognition, basic first-aid preparedness, and when a poultry health concern requires additional assistance.

Topics include:

• Monitoring body condition

• Recognizing changes in flock behavior

• Frostbite and cold-related concerns

• Respiratory and moisture-related problems

• Foot and skin health

• Seasonal stress

• Basic poultry first aid

• Building a poultry first-aid kit

• Knowing when to seek veterinary assistance

November 17: Poultry Nutrition #2: Left Over or Left Out?

Just in time for the holidays!

Can chickens have holiday leftovers? What about bread? Vegetables? Meat? Cranberries? Potatoes?

Kitchen scraps and leftovers can be confusing, especially when advice online ranges from "chickens can eat anything" to long lists of foods they're supposedly never allowed to touch.

We'll sort through the confusion and talk about what can be safely shared, what should be avoided, and how treats and scraps fit into a nutritionally balanced poultry diet.

Topics include:

• Safe seasonal foods and kitchen scraps

• Foods that should be limited

• Foods that should be avoided

• Holiday leftovers

• Treats versus balanced feed

• Portion and frequency considerations

• Food safety and spoilage

• Common feeding myths

December 1: Identifying & Preventing Poultry Predators

Something got into the coop—but what was it?

Different predators often leave different clues behind. Learning to recognize those clues can help poultry keepers identify vulnerabilities and make better decisions about protecting their birds.

We'll explore common poultry predators found throughout the United States, the evidence they may leave behind, and practical strategies for reducing predator losses.

Topics include:

• Identifying common poultry predators

• Tracks, feathers, injuries, entry points, and other evidence

• Daytime versus nighttime predators

• Aerial predators

• Ground predators

• Wildlife and domestic animal threats

• Fencing and enclosure considerations

• Coop security

• Predator deterrence

• Building a layered prevention strategy

December 15: Poultry Nutrition #3: Vitamins in Winter

Does your flock actually need vitamins during the winter?

The answer isn't always as simple as adding supplements to the water.

Our final webinar explores vitamins, minerals, supplementation, seasonal nutritional needs, and how environmental changes may affect poultry throughout the colder months.

We'll discuss how to recognize potential nutritional concerns while also looking at when supplementation may be helpful—and when it may be unnecessary.

Topics include:

• Essential vitamins and minerals

• Understanding complete poultry feeds

• Seasonal nutritional considerations

• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

• Supplementation

• Electrolytes

• Changes in forage availability

• Treats and dietary dilution

• Supporting birds during periods of environmental stress

• When "more" isn't necessarily better

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

This series is designed for poultry keepers and producers at all experience levels, including:

• Backyard poultry keepers

• Beginning farmers

• Established poultry producers

• Diversified farms

• Homesteaders

• Youth and families

• Agricultural Educators

• Agricultural Service Providers

• Farm and food-system professionals

• Anyone interested in learning more about responsible poultry management

You do not need to operate a commercial poultry farm to participate.

Whether you have five hens in your backyard or manage hundreds of birds as part of an agricultural business, you're welcome here.

LEARN WITH US FROM ANYWHERE!

Sunrider Ranch & Cultural Center's virtual programming allows us to bring poultry education directly to communities throughout the United States.

Our goal isn't to give every producer one rigid way of raising poultry. Instead, we want to help participants understand the science, reasoning, and management principles behind the recommendations so they can make informed decisions for their own birds, climate, resources, and operation.

Ask questions. Build knowledge. Take what you learn back to your flock.