Light is an important factor influencing the development, welfare and egg production of poultry. Light is very important to guide the behavior of chickens.
Chickens need feed and water to grow and produce. Feed and water should be of good quality and easily accessible. First of all, light helps them find these things at dusk.
Light allows chickens to see around. It regulates its actions and reactions accordingly. The light stimulates the chickens and makes them more active. It helps them find their way around the coop. On the other hand, light passes through the skin and skull, affecting biorhythm and sexual development.
There is a big difference between the human eye and the chicken eye. Therefore, chickens see and perceive light differently. The visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum for chickens is larger than what humans see. So chickens see more than humans. The human eye cannot see Ultraviolet A (UVA) light, whose wavelength is in the range of 315-400 nm. In contrast, chickens can see UVA radiation. In addition, chickens are more sensitive to red and blue light.
Generally, in winter, egg production slows down because there is not enough daylight. During this season, chickens can be provided with artificial light to continue egg production. The duration of natural lighting should be measured to decide when to use artificial light.
Hens need 14 to 16 hours of lighting to support egg production. If the lighting time is less than 14 hours, the egg production of hens may slow down or stop altogether. At least 8 hours of darkness should be provided for the birds to rest.
It is recommended to give the chickens cool white light with higher color temperatures (more blue) during the rearing period. Cool white stimulates the activity of chickens and makes them grow faster. During the production period, it is recommended to use warm white light at lower color temperatures (more red). The warm white light calms them down and helps them get into production.
Sunrise and sunset can be imitated by using different color temperatures during the day. Cool white lights can be used in the first hours of the morning and warm white lights in the evening. This is best for chickens.
The human eye can detect light flickers in the 50-60 Hertz range. In chickens, this limit is much higher and is approximately 120 Hertz. For this reason, the flickering frequency of the lights to be used in the poultry houses should be at least 120 Hertz. Of course no flicker (flicker-free) is better.
It is sufficient to use a 40 W incandescent bulb for every 10 m² in the henhouse. Although the incandescent lamp is an old and low-efficiency technology, it also helps to warm the house on cold winter days. If a single color LED lamp is planned to be used, a color temperature of 4000 K would be a good choice.
Bulbs should be kept away from any combustible material. It should be checked frequently and defective ones should be replaced. A timer or smart socket can be used to turn the lights on and off in the henhouse at the appropriate time.
