Do Chickens Belong in New England?

If you’ve ever wondered whether chickens can really thrive in New England, the answer is yes. Our climate gives us excellent pasture for part of the year, and with the right winter setup, we make it work the rest of the time. Here’s how our seasons compare to warmer regions, why pasture quality matters, and why raising birds close to home beats shipping them in.

Our Season

In northern New England, the frost-free window runs from about late April to early October—roughly 140–160 days around Burlington in most years.

That shorter growing season shapes how pastures grow. Cool-season grasses like orchardgrass, ryegrass, and fescues grow like crazy in spring, stay steady in early summer, slow down in the late summer heat, then bounce back again in the fall

Why that’s good for chickens

• Cooler weather = happier birds. Chickens do better in cool, dry air than in hot, sticky conditions. When it’s too hot and humid, they eat less and grow slower. Our spring and fall help avoid that.
• Spring flush = better forage. Those early-season grasses are full of nutrients, vitamins, and natural compounds that add flavor and nutrition when birds are out foraging.

NEW ENGLAND vs WARMER REGIONS

Warmer Areas (Southeast, Gulf, Southwest):

• Upside: They can graze for longer parts of the year, and warm-season grasses can produce a lot of forage.
• Downside: Hot, humid summers make birds struggle with heat stress, and farms often spend more on cooling and ventilation. Those warm-season grasses also don’t always offer the same nutrition as cool-season ones.

New England (Cool-Temperate):

• Upside: Our cool-season grasses shine in spring and fall, right when chickens are most comfortable. The flush of growth in those seasons matches perfectly with pasture-based poultry.
• Downside: The grazing season is shorter. Late summer slows grass regrowth, and winter means birds move indoors until pastures recover.

Why Local Matters

People often say local food means fewer emissions, and that’s partly true. Transport is usually only a small slice of total emissions, but refrigerated shipping adds up. Raising and processing birds close to home cuts that out.

The real benefits of local, pasture-raised chicken

1. Bird health: Fewer hot, humid days mean less stress and less need for energy-hungry cooling.
2. Meat quality: Foraging adds nutrients and pigments that boost flavor, color, and nutrition.
3. Soil health: Moving birds across pasture spreads fertility and helps the land thrive.
4. Community: Shorter supply chains, more transparency, and a seasonal rhythm you can see at pasture walks.

How We Make the Season Work

1. Spring: Wait until grass is ready, then move birds often to keep forage fresh and regrowing.
2. Summer: As pastures slow down, rest periods get longer, and we adjust shade, water, and rotation to keep birds comfortable.
3. Fall: Cooler nights bring a fresh burst of grass, perfect for finishing birds on high-quality forage.
4. Winter: Birds move indoors with deep bedding and good airflow. It’s not pasture season, but it’s low-stress and sets them up well for spring.

 The Bottom Line

• Could chickens be raised year-round in other regions for Vermonters to eat? Yes—but that often means fighting heat stress or relying on long-distance shipping.
• Does New England’s shorter season work? Definitely. Our best pasture quality happens when birds are most comfortable, and with good planning, we get high-welfare chickens and flavorful, nutrient-dense meat—raised right here at home.