Animal welfare laws are forcing a transition away from cage housing systems in an increasing number of nations.
The greatest substitute for cage systems is seen to be aviary systems. They are all multi-tier systems that let chickens roam freely throughout the house, which is what they all have in common. This has a number of difficulties despite its goal of improving animal welfare.
Movement is restricted in cage homes. The chickens can only communicate with the other hens in their cage as a result. The hens have more space in aviary systems to walk around, perform naturally, and interact with the other hens in the home. Pecking odds are raised as a result.
The number of wounds and injuries increases as feathers is pecked. It may even result in cannibalism since the redness of blood and wounds further encourages pecking. Pecking impacts animal well-being overall and raises injury and mortality rates.
Ground eggs
Eggs on the floor might also be a significant issue. Eggs that are laid outside of the nesting area are these.
The chickens in cage housing systems are forced to lay their eggs in the nests inside their cages. However, because aviary systems allow the hens to roam freely, they are free to lay their eggs anywhere they like. As a result, there are more floor eggs.
Eggs placed on the ground are regarded as second-class eggs since they are not as hygienic as eggs laid in a nesting location. Additionally, it takes more time and money to manually collect them. Floor eggs consequently result in lower sales and higher labor costs.
How does lighting assist?
After examining the difficulties associated with the transition from cage-to-aviary housing, let's look at how illumination can aid in overcoming them.
Limit feather plucking.
1. Lessen tension
Stress is one of the key contributors to feather plucking. Pecking diminishes when stress levels drop. Ideal lighting lessens tension by:
A: Not flickering. Stress is heightened by flickering lights. Therefore, 100% flicker-free lighting is strongly advised.
B: Making deep and even dimming possible. The lights can imitate natural twilight and dawn by using lights that dim equally and deeply from 100% to 0%. Stress will be greatly reduced by this simulation rather than a rapid change in light intensity.
C: Providing a wide range of light. The hen's vision is enhanced by a wide spectrum of light. The hens' vision improves and they grow more relaxed. Additionally, having a greater vision will facilitate their movement around the coop and social interactions with other chickens. Over time, this also lessens stress.
2. Disguise blood and wounds
The ability of lights to conceal blood and wounds helps to prevent pecking. When pecking happens, it is helpful to combine white light with red light or, in severe cases, utilize red light monochromatically. This will cover a variety of things, including the blood's redness and the wounds the hens are pecking. They become less obvious to the hens in this manner, which lessens pecking.
