The effect of light colour and changes on egg production
Researchers at Mississippi University conducted a research to see how chickens would respond to a transition from blue light to red light throughout the pullet phase and production phase. Light is necessary for laying chickens to develop and begin laying eggs. However, improvements in the study of poultry and the availability of LED lights have shown that not all light is the same.
Researchers have previously shown that laying hens housed under red light not only began to lay eggs sooner but also produced more eggs than those kept under white or green light. Furthermore, several studies have connected shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue light, to improved development and decreased activity in hens.
Connection to immune systems
The most recent study discovered that compared to the control group, birds kept under red lights had a considerably smaller spleen proportion. This would suggest that the birds' immune systems are less robust.
In the research, 1,000 Hy-Line W-36 chickens were grown in a cage-free housing system made up of two similar rooms. From 1 to 18 weeks of age, blue light was given to hens in one room. From 19 to 31 weeks of age, those identical chickens then transitioned to red light. Throughout the investigation, the control group in the other room was exposed to regular LED lamps. The experiment was then repeated by the researchers.
Chicken size and egg type
When it came to hen size and egg content, switching from blue to red seemed to make a difference. The researchers discovered that throughout the pullet period, the body weight of chickens reared under blue light was considerably greater. Compared to chickens provided normal-LED light, when the lights turned red, the hens laid eggs with a greater relative egg yolk percentage and a lower relative albumen (egg white) percentage.
Amount of eggs laid
The scientists noted that there was no difference between the light treatments in terms of hen day egg production, brain weight, tonic immobility, or hormone concentration. However, actual egg production figures and a number of other variables did not seem to be altered by the color of light.
