The ancestor of the modern-day chicken, the red jungle fowl, was exposed to different spectra of light in their natural habitat. The surrounding environment, vegetation, season and time of day all affect the color of light exposure to the wild bird, which may have lingering behavioral effects on present-day poultry.
Mobility and leg problems are common in modern-day broilers, which are bred for high breast-muscle yield. Extra activity can help the birds support the extra bodyweight and prevent skeletal disorders. Could colored lighting encourage broilers to be more active and less prone to leg problems?
Incubation lighting has a limited impact on fear and stress responses in broilers, according to research presented by Angela Perretti, University of Arkansas poultry science graduate student, at the 2024 Poultry Science Association annual meeting.
Blue light reduces fear and stress in birds while also improving their vision yet it does not appear to significantly affect production parameters, according to researchers. But will farmers be interested in using blue light?
Providing chicks a dark period from the time of placement in the broiler house is practical and affordable for broiler producers and has no apparent negative effects on broiler performance, according to research conducted by Garret Ashabranner, PhD; Brian Fairchild, PhD; and Michael Czarick, engineer at the University of Georgia.
Varying periods of light and dark can affect turkeys’ health and well-being, including their eye health, level of fearfulness and mortality, according to a study led by Allison Pullin, PhD, animal welfare professor at North Carolina State University.
Alternative lighting strategies that allow hens additional feeding opportunities during scotophase, or dark periods, can go a long way toward improving egg quality and bird welfare.
Turkeys are seasonal breeders, meaning exposure to a long-day photoperiod triggers the reproductive response. The challenge is that the photoreceptors are deep within the brain. The light must therefore penetrate the skull and brain tissue to elicit a response.
Continuous lighting is commonplace in commercial broiler houses, but is that what’s best for the birds?
A recent study comparing traditional lighting with gradient lighting demonstrated significant benefits to poultry flocks, including improved feed conversion ratio (FCR), enhanced welfare indicators and reduced stress levels.
Huts are a favored enrichment of birds in broiler houses and can have a positive impact on welfare, according to University of Arkansas research.
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