Colour lighting is gaining more and more attention in the poultry industry. We receive lots of questions about it and we’re selling an increasing amount of colour lighting solutions all over the world.
Now, what is a light colour, how and when do you use the different light colours and what are the benefits?
The light colour, also expressed as the colour temperature in Degrees Kelvin, is a specification of the colour ambiance of the light emitted. A higher colour temperature, like 6000K, means that the light spectrum contains more blue light. When the colour temperature is low, 2700K for example, the spectrum contains more red light.
By providing a light colour that suits the poultry’s needs; welfare, behaviour and performances can be further improved.
The most commonly used colours in poultry lighting are:
Cool white or warm white lighting, depending on the animals in the house, should be used as ‘main lighting’.
Both red and blue lighting aren’t meant to be used as ‘main lighting’. The main goal of red and blue lighting is to help in certain situations. Red lighting can be mixed with white lighting or used monochromatically, depending on the circumstances. Blue lighting should only be used monochromatically.
Be aware: when you intend to use red or blue lighting, we recommend to mix (red only) or dim (both), instead of switching. This to prevent scaring the birds and to keep their stress levels as low as possible.
As you see below, each light colour has a different effect on the different types of poultry. However, not all colours can be used for all types of poultry. It’s very important to use the right colour in the right situation to reach the best results.
| Cool white | Broilers <2KG
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| Warm white | Broilers >2KG:
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| Blue (monochromatically) |
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| Red (mix with white or monochromatically) | Not applicable to broilers |
| Cool white | Not applicable to laying hens |
| Warm white |
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| Blue (monochromatically) |
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| Red (mix with white) |
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| Red (monochromatically) |
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| Cool white | Not applicable to parent stock |
| Warm white |
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| Blue (monochromatically) |
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| Red (mix with white) |
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| Red (monochromatically) |
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| Cool white | Improved growth Be aware: may increase unwanted behaviour |
| Warm white |
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| Blue (monochromatically) |
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| Red (mix with white) |
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| Red (monochromatically) |
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The HATO lighting solutions below are available in multiple light colours or colour combinations. For more information, please click on one of them.
And there is more...
A lot of information, right? To summarise: by providing a light colour that suits the poultry’s needs; welfare, behaviour and performances can be improved even further. Different light colours have different effects on the different types of poultry. It’s very important to use the right colours in the right situation to reach the best results.
More information on what colour lighting can do for you?