Lighting in broiler farming is not just about visibility — it’s a critical environmental factor influencing behaviour, health, and productivity. Light impacts feeding habits, rest cycles, stress levels, and overall growth performance. Proper lighting setups mimic natural day-night rhythms, encouraging healthy movement, feeding patterns, and social behaviours.
Global poultry farming has now recognized that lighting programs are as important as feed formulation and ventilation. Countries like the Netherlands, Australia, and Canada have already adopted animal welfare lighting standards, while many developing countries are starting to follow suit.
🌄 1. Mimicking Natural Day-Night Cycles for Better Behaviour
In nature, broilers would wake with the sun and rest at night. Artificial lighting can replicate these patterns, ensuring they experience:
- Active daylight periods for feeding and movement
- Dark rest periods for proper sleep and muscle recovery
📊 Country Insight:
- Netherlands & Sweden: Use 16 hours light / 8 hours dark cycles for welfare certification.
- USA & Brazil: Gradually shifting from continuous 24-hour light to natural rhythms for reduced stress.
When broilers have uninterrupted dark periods, they rest more efficiently, leading to lower mortality rates and better meat quality.
💡 2. Light Intensity and Bird Comfort
The brightness of light affects behaviour. Too bright can make broilers anxious and increase aggressive pecking. Too dim can reduce feeding activity.
✅ Ideal Range: 5–20 lux (depending on age and farm goals).
- Chicks (0–7 days): Higher light (around 20 lux) to encourage early feeding.
- Older broilers: Moderate light (5–10 lux) to balance activity and rest.
🌍 Global Trends:
- Australia: Promotes dimming lights in the last growth phase for calm behaviour.
- India: Still commonly uses bright lighting — new welfare guidelines recommend gradual dimming.
🌈 3. Using Light Color (Spectrum) to Influence Mood & Growth
Different light colours trigger different responses in broilers:
- Blue light: Calming, reduces stress, good for transport or handling periods.
- Green light: Encourages muscle growth in early stages.
- Red/Orange light: Stimulates activity and feeding in some breeds.
🔬 Studies show green + blue combinations improve immune response and reduce leg problems.
🕰 4. Timed Lighting for Predictable Feeding
When lighting is consistent, broilers learn feeding and resting schedules, which improves digestion and feed conversion ratios (FCR).
📌 Example:
In UK farms, a 1-hour dimming before lights-out signals birds to feed before rest, mimicking sunset grazing.
😌 5. Reducing Stress Through Light Management
High-stress environments cause feather pecking, uneven growth, and immune suppression. Gentle lighting transitions (instead of sudden switches) keep birds calm.
Best Practice: Use gradual dimmers — sudden light changes mimic predator threats and cause panic.
🌱 6. Lighting for Enrichment and Natural Movement
Lighting can be used to encourage movement to different parts of the barn — preventing overcrowding in one area and promoting exploration.
🐓 Behavioural Benefit: Birds move more, peck litter, and engage in wing-flapping — all signs of good welfare.
🌍 Country-Wise Lighting Adoption Rates
| Country | Common Lighting Program | Welfare Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands 🇳🇱 | 16L:8D (light:dark) | Certified welfare standard |
| USA 🇺🇸 | 23L:1D → 16L:8D transition | Increasing dark periods |
| Brazil 🇧🇷 | 20L:4D | Gradual welfare adoption |
| India 🇮🇳 | 24L continuous (traditional) | Starting to change |
| Australia 🇦🇺 | 18L:6D | Dimming in last phase |
🏁 Final Thoughts
Lighting is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to improve broiler welfare while boosting farm profitability. By adopting natural rhythms, optimal brightness, colour adjustments, and smooth transitions, farmers can create an environment where broilers grow healthier, behave naturally, and experience less stress.
In a future where animal welfare regulations are getting stricter, smart lighting systems will not just be a choice — they’ll be a necessity for global poultry market competitiveness.