Colour lighting: everything you need to know
The poultry business is paying more and more attention to color illumination. We get a lot of inquiries about it, and we're selling more and more color lighting systems globally.
Now, what exactly is a light color, how and when do you use it, and what are the advantages?
What color is the light?
The color of the light, commonly known as the color temperature in degrees Kelvin, is a description of the ambiance's color. More blue light is present in the light spectrum at higher color temperatures, such 6000K. The spectrum includes more red light when the color temperature is low, like 2700K.
The welfare, behavior, and performances of the poultry may all be further enhanced by offering a bright color that meets their demands.
How may color illumination be used?
The following hues are most often used in lighting for poultry:
Warm white Cool white Red Blue
Depending on the animals in the home, "main lighting" should be either cool white or warm white.
Neither red nor blue lights should be utilized as the "main lighting." The primary function of red and blue lights is to provide assistance when necessary. Depending on the situation, red lighting may be utilized alone or in combination with white illumination. Only monochromatic illumination should be utilized with blue.
Be mindful that mixing (red only) or dimming (both) is preferable than switching when using red or blue lights. This will maintain the birds' stress levels as low as possible and prevent them from being startled.
What advantages do each light color offer?
Each light color has a unique impact on the various varieties of fowl, as you can see in the image below. Not all colors, meanwhile, are appropriate for all kinds of fowl. To get the finest effects, it's crucial to employ the proper color in the appropriate setting.
Broilers
| Cool white | Broilers <2KG
Improved growth Improved Feed Conversion Ratio |
| Warm white | Broilers >2KG:
Calmer birds (compared to cool white) Less leg/wing problems Improved chick and slaughter quality |
| Blue (monochromatically) |
Makes the birds sit still Easy vaccinating Easy catching |
Laying hens
| Cool white | Not applicable to laying hens |
| Warm white |
Improved sexual stimulation & egg-laying performances Lower activity |
| Blue (monochromatically) |
Makes the birds sit still Easy vaccinating |
| Red (mix with white) |
Camouflages blood / wounds Less feather pecking Stimulated egg production |
| Red (monochromatically) |
Camouflages blood / wounds Less feather pecking |
Parent stock
| Cool white | Not applicable to parent stock |
| Warm white |
Improved sexual stimulation & egg-laying performances and hatchability Lower activity |
| Blue (monochromatically) |
Makes the birds sit still |
| Red (mix with white) |
Camouflages blood / wounds Less feather pecking |
| Red (monochromatically) |
Camouflages blood / wounds Less feather pecking |
Rearing
| Cool white | Improved growth Be aware: may increase unwanted behaviour |
| Warm white |
Lower activity Less unwanted behaviour |
| Blue (monochromatically) |
Makes the birds sit still Easy vaccinating |
| Red (mix with white) |
Camouflages blood / wounds Less feather pecking |
| Red (monochromatically) |
Camouflages blood / wounds Less feather pecking |
That's a lot of data, right? To summarize, the welfare, behavior, and performances of the poultry may all be enhanced even more by using a bright color that meets their demands. Different light colors affect different varieties of fowl in different ways. To get the finest effects, it's crucial to employ the appropriate colors in the appropriate settings.
