LIGHT MANAGEMENT FOR COMMERCIAL POULTRY PRODUCTION
Why is it necessary to have lighting?
When it comes to the management of a healthy and productive flock, ensuring that the lighting conditions are optimal is of the utmost importance. Light travels via the chicken's eyes as well as the top of the skull, where it enters the pineal gland, and through the pituitary gland, which is located near to the hypothalamus. This encourages the creation of melatonin, which in turn helps develop healthy diurnal cycles.
The day-night cycle is essential for birds because it controls many aspects of their biology, including their immunological function, growth rate, and reproductive hormones. This results in improvements to health as well as the immune system, mobility, and attentiveness.
Light Emitting Diode
There are three different types of light that make up the spectrum, and each one has the potential to influence the behaviour of birds in a different way: ultraviolet light, visible light, and infrared light. On the long end of the electromagnetic spectrum is where you'll find ultraviolet light. The visible spectrum of light has a wavelength that extends from around 400 nm to about 700 nm. Above 700 nanometers, the wavelength of infrared light is significantly longer than the wavelength of visible light. Chickens have vision that spans from 315 to 750 nanometers. Visible light with longer wavelengths, like red, has a greater chance of penetrating the human brain than visible light with shorter wavelengths.
Terms that are utilised in relation to light
A candle is a unit of measure for the amount of luminous intensity emitted by a light source in a certain direction.
The rate at which light falls on a surface that is one square foot in area and is equally spaced one foot away from a source whose intensity is one candle is what is meant by the term "lumen," and it is measured in lumens.
The amount of light that falls on a surface is expressed as a number of foot-candles. The intensity of light that strikes each and every point on a segment of the inside surface of an imaginary sphere having a radius of one foot and a source of one candlepower at its centre is the definition of a foot candle. Foot candles are measured in candlepower. As a result, one foot candle is equivalent to one lumen per square foot.
One lumen is equivalent to one lux of light intensity when measured across one square foot. 1 foot candle equals 10.76 lux.
Different Kinds of Light
There are four primary varieties of lighting that are typically seen in poultry houses:
Incandescent lighting is the least expensive option, but it requires reflectors and has a shorter bulb life (750–1000 hours).
Fluorescent light bulbs have a lifespan that is ten times longer than their incandescent counterparts and are up to three times more energy efficient.
Mercury vapour has a long lifespan (24,000 hours), but it takes several minutes to get to operating temperature and it can't be utilised in homes with low ceilings.
Lighting that uses compact fluorescent (CF) bulbs uses less energy overall. It takes only one-fifth of the energy that a fluorescent light does to produce the same amount of light (lumen).
The administration of light
When installing light bulbs in poultry houses, there are a few important factors that must be taken into consideration:
It is recommended that the space between bulbs be 1.5 times that of the distance between the bulb and the bird level.
It is recommended that there be no more than one-half of the distance between bulbs between the bulbs and the outer edges of the house.
The ratio of light coming from a corner that is dimly lighted to a corner that is well lit should not be greater than one to three. In the event that the ratio grows to be greater than 1:15, there is a possibility that difficulties will occur in both areas.
Cannibalism is more likely to develop in birds that are kept in well-lit areas, whereas birds that are kept in darker areas may be physically inactive.
Within the cage system, the bulbs should be positioned in such a way that the rays of light from the bulbs fall not only on the feed but also on the birds.
When compared to the absence of a reflector, the light intensity at bird level is increased by a factor of fifty percent when clean reflectors are used.
Cone-shaped reflectors should be avoided since they concentrate the light beams in a small region. Utilise a reflector of the flat type that has a rounded edge for optimal results.
When using a deep litter system, the light bulb should be positioned at a height of 7-8 feet, however when using a cage house, it should be kept in the aisle.
In open houses, you should avoid suspending light bulbs by their cords.
When compared to clean bulbs, extremely dirty ones produce approximately one third less light. It is recommended that light bulbs be cleaned once every two weeks.
Aspects in the environment that can affect the brightness of the light
The amount of light that birds are exposed to is determined by two different elements.
The wattage of the light source is directly related to the amount of light that is emitted by the bulb. The distance between the surface and the light source. Power of the light source. When a surface of light is moved further from its source, there is a corresponding reduction in the light's intensity.
The effect of light on the plant while it was growing
When compared to hatches obtained from October-December, chicks that are hatched during the months of March and April will have earlier sexual maturity, lower body weight, and smaller and fewer eggs throughout their laying period. This is due to the increased amount of daylight they receive during their growing period.
The influence of light on reproduction during the laying phase
The pituitary gland's enhanced production of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) causes birds that are raised with more daylight to lay more eggs. The intensity of the light also has an effect on the formation of eggs. Layer dwellings require an intensity of light equal to that of one foot candle under realistic conditions. During the time of peak egg production, there must be a minimum of 16 hours of light for maximum egg production. Egg production is severely impacted when the photoperiod is shortened during the laying period. It is possible to provide the artificial light in the morning, in the evening, or both in the morning and in the evening.
Within the framework of the windowed house system,
For day-old chicks, the day should be 23 hours long, and the number of light hours should gradually decline thereafter with a consistent rate and at consistent intervals until the chicks reach their natural day length at 20 weeks of age.
Once the animal has reached 20 weeks of age, the laying pattern of lighting is introduced.
If birds are already experiencing a natural day length of 15 hours or more, then the artificial day length should be increased by 15 minutes every week until it reaches 16 hours. After that, the number of daylight hours should remain unchanged.
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