Effect of Combinations of Monochromatic LED Light Color on the Performance and Behavior of Laying Hens

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effect of monochromatic and combinations of light emitting diode light color on the performance and behavior of laying hens. At 12 weeks of age, 600 Hy-line Brown pullets were randomly divided into eight lighting treatments with three replicates of 25 birds in each room. The lightning was set-up as follows; white (W, control; 16 h/d), red (R; 618-635 nm; 16 h/d), green (G; 515-535 nm; 16 h/d), blue (B; 455-470 nm; 16 h/d), red→ green (R→G; 14 h→2 h/d), red→ blue (R→B; 14 h→2 h/d), red→ green→ blue (R→G→B; 12 h→2 h→2 h/d) and red→ blue→ green (R→B→G; 12 h→2 h→2 h/d) light treatments. The light colors significantly influenced egg production, which was higher for the combination R→G (89.56%) and monochromatic R (87.34%) and lower in the G (85.26%) and B (83.75%) light treatments. Conversely, egg weight was remarkably heavier in the B and G light treatments than those of monochromatic R and combination treatments. Concurrently, better feed conversion ratio was found for the combination R→G→B and R→G and the monochromatic R light treatment. Egg shells were significantly pigmented by the combinations of R→B→G and R→G→B. Furthermore, egg shell breaking strength increased following the G treatment. Higher frequencies of ground pecking, ground scratching, and tail wagging were observed in the R group and these behaviors were less frequent in the B groups. Birds under G and B lights spent a longer time perching. These results suggest that a combination of R→G and monochromatic R light enhanced egg production. In contrast, R light activated the bird’s movement, whereas B light decreased movement, and birds spent a longer time perching.

Keywords

• laying hens
• led light color
• performance and behavior