Abstract

Not much is known about the effect of light sources on behavioural development of laying hens. The effect of natural and artificial light, respectively, on feeding and perching of layers was studied. 126-day-old chicks were divided into 1) A8: 8h artificial light+16h darkness, 2) A16: 16h artificial light+8h darkness, 3) N8: 8h daylight+16h darkness. A8 and N8 birds did not differ in their feeding behaviour, whereas the mean proportion of A16 birds feeding was 0.056 lower than in A8 birds in daytime (P < 0.001) and 0.019 lower in nighttime (P < 0.0001). N8 birds tended to start nighttime perching earlier than A8 birds (hazard ratio=8.5; P=0.056). These results suggest that chicks can change their feeding behaviour depending on day length. Natural daylight was found to precipitate the onset of nighttime perching in the life of the pullet

Keywords

daylight; laying hen; light source; poultry; welfare

Published in

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
2008, Volume: 58, number: 2, pages: 93-99
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

SLU Authors

• Gunnarsson, Stefan

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064700802363852

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/18789