The lighting program used by many broiler growers in the past has been to provide what is essentially
continuous lighting (a long continuous light period, followed by a short dark period of up to an hour). The
belief was that if lights were on continually, birds would eat and drink more, and grow faster. This assumption
has now been shown to be false. Not only does continuous or near-continuous light actually result in
depressed market weights, it has negative impacts on broiler health and welfare as well.