How ONCE, a Signify brand’s Lighting and Dimming System Helped One Poultry Farm Cut Chick Stress, Reduce Deaths, Improve Feed Conversion—and Slash Energy Costs by 67%

With 35 years of experience in lighting and electrical distribution, Kyle Keeton brings science-based lighting solutions to poultry farmers, educating them on the negative impact of bad lighting and how the right lighting can improve feed conversion and weight gain while reducing stress levels in the chicks, reducing the percentage of deaths in a flock. 

At Hidden Acres Poultry in Macon, Mississippi, farmer Dorsey Unruh manages four farms with 20 broiler houses, each housing 23,800 chicks. Every year, five flocks rotate through each house, making chick health and performance critical to the success of the operation.

When one of Dorsey’s farmhouses began experiencing unexplained chick losses after 21 days—despite no issues with water, feed, or bacterial infections—he turned to lighting consultant Kyle Keeton for answers.

The Problem: Stress from Inadequate Lighting

After reviewing the conditions, Kyle concluded that the lighting system in the farmhouse was the root cause of the chicks’ stress and subsequent deaths.

Chickens have a third optic nerve for eyesight that gives them the ability to see an entirely different color spectrum than humans see, and lighting is a very sensitive issue for birds. 

The Solution: Smart Lighting Designed for Poultry Vision

Kyle recommended installing ONCE by Signify’s MLB 14-watt LED Dome Lamps paired with a precision dimming system across all 20 broiler houses. Over the next two years, the system was fully implemented—and the results were clear.

“Once we laid out the lighting and implemented the new ONCE by Signify’s LED lighting, Dorsey and I looked at how long the chicks were sleeping. Based on that, we adjusted the lighting to ensure they got the recommended amount of sleep, which helps reduce stress levels by improving their ability to see the environment,” said Kyle. 

The Results: A Smart and Beneficial Investment

• Energy Efficiency: Replacing 40W incandescent lights with ONCE’s LED system resulted in a 67% reduction in energy costs, plus zero maintenance—no more changing bulbs throughout the year.
• Better Bird Separation: The lighting system’s sunrise and sunset simulation helped naturally separate birds across the house, reducing aggression and fighting.
• Improved Visibility: The previous lighting setup had inadequate footcandle levels. With the new system, chicks found food and water more easily, resulting in improved feed conversion.
• Easier Acclimation: New chicks quickly adapted to their surroundings thanks to the higher-quality, species-appropriate lighting.
• Less Stress During Transport: By dimming the lights before loading, Dorsey found the birds easier to manage with lower stress levels at day 54.

“The LED lighting and dimming system by ONCE by Signify helps improve feed conversion ratio, reduces the percentage of chick deaths due to stress, and delivers major energy savings,” says Kyle. “It’s a solution every broiler farmhouse should look into.”

Contact our team to learn how tailored lighting solutions can help your flock thrive—while boosting your bottom line.