WHAT IS CURRENTLY RECOMMEND FOR POULTRY LIGHTING?
The intensity depends upon the age and type of housing being used, and type of chicken, be it broiler, breeder or layer. With blackout housing both males and females can be exposed to 3.5 fc from day one to day six and then placed on 1 fc to 19 or 20 weeks. After 19 - 20 weeks the broiler breeders can be exposed to about 3.0 to 5.0 fc during the entire production period. Layers should be exposed to about .5 to 1.5 fc. In natural light housing (window or curtain houses) the natural light is supplemented with 1.5 - 5.0 fc for the period when supplemental lighting is used.
Broilers, are usually exposed to 1 to 3 fc during the entire grow-out period.
These values are based upon data collected using incandescant lamps. This may change with lamps that produce high intensities of red, blue or yellow wavelengths.
The duration of lighting depends upon whether the birds are layers, breeders or broilers. Generally, young birds can be exposed to 24 hours of light for 1-3 days and then gradually reduced to about 8-10 hours during the growing period. Increasing daylength can then be used to stimulate egg production. Two basic rules apply. Never increase daylength on young growing birds and Never decrease daylength on adult layers and breeders.