Do I need a light for my chicken coop?

[LikeTurkeys]

So many new things I am discovering about chickens today! My birds get fed once a day, at about noon. I was actually worried they may be getting underfed (considering that I have two large turkeys who consistently like hogging the food bowl). I am also wondering if my feeding habits have contributed to a case of sour crop in one of my turkeys has (still wondering how to treat that properly). I let my hens out for an hour or so a few days every week; not very much but hopefully enough for exercise.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hens should have free access to a good ration, and oyster shells to optimize production. Limiting feed will limit laying. It takes a lot to produce those eggs.

My turkeys always have free access to feed as well. When they are younger they do eat a lot. I have never had sour crop in any of my birds so I can't help with that.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Do oyster shells increase egg laying rate or simply make the shells stronger? I feed them egg shells once in a while (their own and store bought). I've asked twice on BYC about treating sour crop and nobody had any good ideas on how to treat it. I would feed freely but they eat in a way that makes me think they'll never stop. Recently I was at a fair and saw chickens that were so fat they couldn't walk.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are your turkeys broad breasted?

Egg shells are okay, but they really need oyster shells because they are slowly digested. Calcium is necessary to make eggs, and to help with other stuff like muscle function. It's always recommended to keep some free choice so your birds can self regulate their consumption of them. They don't eat a lot, so it's a cheap insurance policy. I keep a separate bowl full.

I'm not positive but I think sour crop is a imbalance of ph and possibly an infection in the crop. I believe it's deadly after a short while. You could try asking again in the disease forum about treatment, otherwise googling it may get you an answer.

 

[PachecoPeeps]

Do oyster shells increase egg laying rate or simply make the shells stronger? I feed them egg shells once in a while (their own and store bought). I've asked twice on BYC about treating sour crop and nobody had any good ideas on how to treat it. I would feed freely but they eat in a way that makes me think they'll never stop. Recently I was at a fair and saw chickens that were so fat they couldn't walk.

They may be eating that way because they know that’s the only food they are getting for awhile. Unless you have meat birds they only eat what they need they don’t pig out. The other chickens may be heavy because of being fed too many treats and or scratch. As stated above limiting food and oyster shells will give you a sharp reduction in eggs laid.

I’m sorry to hear about your sour crop issue. I wish I could help but I don’t have experience with it.

 

[aart]

Hens don't run out of ovum. They are born with more ovum than they will ever lay. Breeds and breeding, as well as feeding will determine a hens reproduction. Some breeds burn out early due to it being so taxing on their systems to produce so many eggs

Ditto Dat^^^
Great posts here @oldhenlikesdogs !

Recently I was at a fair and saw chickens that were so fat they couldn't walk.

Probably meat birds.

With Socal no light is needed as it may be too hot. I think you might be in the molting stage as you guys will have eggs for a little bit longer.

It's not a heat lamp you use for supplemental light for laying. These birds have just started laying, so not old enough to have a fall molt.


@LikeTurkeys winter lighting can be tricky, it must be on a timer and kept consistent...and there are drawbacks, as well as not being a guarantee.
Here's a pretty good article on supplemental lighting.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Once again, thank you for all the information. My neighbor keeps chickens and has a light on all night. I was wondering if that was all that is needed (seems to work for him anyway) but it looks like it's more complicated than that. Is there some danger to keeping the light on all night? Will it exhaust the chickens or something? My turkeys are broad breasted whites, so yes they're meat birds. The chickens are the Rhode Island Red and 4 Buff Orpingtons (not meat birds I believe).

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Once again, thank you for all the information. My neighbor keeps chickens and has a light on all night. I was wondering if that was all that is needed (seems to work for him anyway) but it looks like it's more complicated than that. Is there some danger to keeping the light on all night? Will it exhaust the chickens or something? My turkeys are broad breasted whites, so yes they're meat birds. The chickens are the Rhode Island Red and 4 Buff Orpingtons (not meat birds I believe).

I would not leave a continuous light on. It is stressful to any animal not to have a dark period. Chickens have evolved to sleep when it dark out. I think a continuous light would cause aggression problems and other stuff due to lack of proper sleep. Light affects the pituitary gland and the release of hormones in birds, people too I believe.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Okay, thank you. I am still debating on whether to put a light in or not, but if I do I'll know how to properly do it.

I'm not positive but I think sour crop is a imbalance of ph and possibly an infection in the crop. I believe it's deadly after a short while. You could try asking again in the disease forum about treatment, otherwise googling it may get you an answer.

I've looked it up, and it's a yeast infection. There are different answers online, and I've tried some of them; they don't work. I just wanted some guidance. I asked twice in the disease forum. I'm a kid and new to forums so I'm not sure if posting again would be proper forum etiquette? Yes, I also think it is deadly after a while. This is why I wanted some help.

 

[aart]

I've looked it up, and it's a yeast infection. There are different answers online, and I've tried some of them; they don't work. I just wanted some guidance. I asked twice in the disease forum. I'm a kid and new to forums so I'm not sure if posting again would be proper forum etiquette? Yes, I also think it is deadly after a while. This is why I wanted some help.

Yeah, starting 3rd thread won't get you much more than the first 2 did..no matter what your age. Doesn't look like you got much help...I don't know much about it.
Impacted, slow, and sour crop often go hand in hand..imp action and/or slowness often precede sourness(yeast).
Here a great article about crop issues:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ion-and-treatments.67194/reviews#review-17286
Maybe that will help