Effect of lighting color during brooding and rearing stages of laying hens on growth and mortality

Abstract

This study was conducted on 120 one-day-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens. divided into
 2 treatments based on the light color during the experiment: the first treatment T1 _(YL), used yellow LED light, and the second T2 _(BGL), used a combination of blue and green light. Each treatment consisted of 60 chicks, with three replicates of 20 birds for each, The husbandary conditions were the same for both treatments.

The results showed a significant difference (P<0.05) in average body weight gain during (1,2,5) month, with the control treatment T1_(YL) outperforming the treatment T2_(BGL). Significant differences were also observed between the two treatments, T1_(YL) and T2_(BGL), throughout the entire experimental period in feed consumption, favoring the control treatment. The feed conversion ratio, was significantly different between the two treatments throughout the entire period except for the fourth month of age. The highest feed conversion ratio was observed in the control treatment T1_(YL) reaching
 (1.84, 2.79, 4.20, and 7.77) respectively. A higher feed conversion ratio reduces the profitability of rearing. Significant differences were also observed in mortality rates during (1,5) month, with the highest rate in the control treatment T1_(YL), while no mortality occurred in the second treatment T2_(BGL), throughout the entire experimental period.