Lighting

Birds in general have a well-developed eyesight in contradiction with pigs who have very low eyesight (only dark and light) but a very good developed smelling sense. Birds must be able to see small insects and seeds to feed themselves.

In the eyes of living creatures there are cones and rods. Cones are responsible for seeing frequency (colours) and the rods for movements. In general a bird would eat a bright coloured insect it prefers a red one. Chicken communicate partly with their eyesight they observe the other chicken of the group, when one of the found food the other ones will follow directly. So for the social structure light is also necessary. Insufficient light may cause unwanted picking and /or cannibalism.

Light synchronizes several physiological process in the body, such as the eating, digesting and the regulating of the body temperature. Light influences the different hormone processes who are responsible for the growth, de maturity development and the reproduction processes.

There are different types of cones and rods in the eyes of every living creature. Human beings have 3 different kind of cones and birds have 4! Chicken can see between 350 till 800 nm., human beings can only see between 400 and 750 nm. Next to the different perspective’s with their eyes they also have receptors in their brains which also influence a large number of biologic and physiologies’ functions These receptors are “picking up” especially the longer wave lengths, which influence the reproduction processes, social behaviour but also so the 24 hour rhythm is influenced by these receptors.

So the perspective of “light” is completely different than for human beings as well!!

Eye anatomic

 The blue line is what chicken see and the green line is how human beings see it!

The influence of light in poultry houses has been an item for research for many years and still is!

Research discovered a difference in perception of light

(source: Poultry Science 1999-78 & 1997-76)

Conclusions:

1. Light is next to water, food, ventilation and heat the most important factor in a modern poultry house! With the right light the farmer can achieve better results!
2. The needs for light are different for different animals and for different ages

Basic demands for light in a poultry house

As the needs of animals change with age and what one wants to do with the animals, it leads to different lighting solutions for different applications. Some general characteristics are:

Broilers

• Uniformity of light intensity at animal level
• Starting with a higher light intensity to stimulate the development of the growing process and then being able to reduce the light intensity to the needs of the animals
• Light reflecting on water drops hanging on nipple drinkers helps to attract the young chicken to the drinker so they find water faster!

Rearing Houses for future Layers and Parent Stock

• Generally like the broiler houses but more and more light management is used for training the pullets to prepare them for the production period later on.

Layers

• Light uniformity in most of the poultry house, especially in the feed troughs, although we prefer less light intensity where we want the egg laying done and sometimes we increase light intensity where we don’t want any egg laying.

Parent Stock

• Light uniformity in most of the poultry house although we prefer less light intensity in the places where we want the egg-laying done.
• A higher light intensity compared to layer house to stimulate the males to do the mating.

Light intensity

Providing the correct light intensity is essential for animal well-being. Breeding companies, which have the best knowledge of their animals, often provide detailed guidance on this in their technical manuals or websites.

Light hours per day

The number of light hours per day is a topic of discussion among scientists, farmers, and animal welfare groups. Generally, light should be turned off for at least 4-6 hours daily, except for day-old chicks, which typically require 24 hours of light during their first days. For specific guidance, refer to the technical manuals of your animal suppliers.

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