Many organisms on Earth respond to light cues; however, not all organisms perceive and respond to light in the same manner. For example, poultry are more sensitive to and perceive light differently than humans. While humans have 3 different retinal cone photoreceptor varieties in their eyes, poultry have 4 color-perceiving cone photoreceptor variants. These cones allow birds to have highly advanced color vision – chickens are 12x more sensitive to blue light, and 4x more sensitive to the red light. Additionally, domestic poultry are descendants of the Red Jungle Fowl, which lives in and around the edges of the jungles of Southeast Asia. This jungle canopy environment creates a very specific lighting environment with dappled and filtered light on the forest floor. The Red Jungle Fowl evolved to thrive in this environment with a sophisticated and specialized visual system that persists in domestic poultry breeds today.
In the modern poultry industry, it is important that producers understand the impact of selecting lighting solutions that are designed to meet the specific needs of poultry. Gradient lighting simulates the dappled effect of the jungle floor that would be experienced by chickens in the wild. Recent research indicated that gradient lighting solutions simulate the natural lighting preferences of chickens, ultimately increasing bird performance and wellbeing.
If you don’t have gradient lighting installed, your birds may be displaying signs that they need it. Here are three clues to look for:
Reduced natural behaviors – Dustbathing and activity are common indicators of good bird welfare in domestic poultry. If you notice that your birds are not engaging in dustbathing behaviors or are inactive, their welfare may be compromised. Gradient lighting mimics the natural habitat of the chicken, providing defined areas of bright lighting surrounding feed sources, and darker areas for resting. This environment encourages broilers to move between these two key areas, and leaves room in between for play and exploratory behaviors.
Showing signs of stress – An increase in piling, feather picking, or fear responses among birds are clues that they feel stressed and unsafe. Studies have shown that, by simulating an environment with “dappled” or variable light intensity, gradient lighting allows birds to be more comfortable in their environment, and reduces fear and stress responses in broilers.
Poor Feed Conversion Ratio – When birds are stressed or unhealthy, they do not convert feed to muscle as efficiently as a healthy bird. Gradient lighting can be used as a tool to improve overall bird performance by focusing on bird preferences for performing various activities, such as eating or resting. Research indicates broilers prefer to eat under high intensity light but prefer to rest under low intensity light away from feeding areas. With gradient light sources attached to the feed lines, pre-defined areas of bright light around the feeders, and areas of dim light away from feeders can be established in the house. Commercial trials indicate the Optient gradient light can improve FCR by 3.3 points compared to traditional uniform ceiling lighting.
Studies indicate that unlike traditional uniform ceiling lighting solutions, gradient lighting mimics the natural habitat of the chicken, which results in improved performance and wellbeing. Gradient lighting solutions focus on the behavioral preferences of poultry and give birds the freedom of choice in commercial settings. If your birds are happy, you are happy!
So, if your birds aren’t happy and showing signs of stress, consider gradient lighting. For more information, talk to one of our animal lighting experts today.
