Exposing broiler eggs to green, red and white light during incubation

Abstract

Previous work has shown that exposing broiler eggs to white light during incubation can improve hatchability and post-hatch animal welfare. It was hypothesized that due to how different wavelengths of light can affect avian physiology differently, and how pigmented eggshells filter light that different monochromatic wavelengths would have differential effects on hatchability and post-hatch animal welfare indicators. To determine, we incubated chicken eggs (n = 6912) under either no light (dark), green light, red light or white light; the light level was 250 lux. White and red light were observed to increase hatch of fertile ( P < 0.05) over dark and green light incubated eggs. White, red and green light exposure during incubation improved ( P < 0.05) the proportion of non-defect chicks over dark incubated eggs. Post-hatch 45-day weight and feed conversion was not affected by light exposure of any wavelength ( P > 0.05). Fear response of during isolation and tonic immobility was reduced ( P < 0.05) in broilers incubated under white or red light when compared with either green or dark broilers. Broilers incubated with white or red light had lower ( P < 0.05) composite asymmetry scores and higher ( P < 0.05) humoral immunity titers than dark incubated broilers, however, green light broilers did not differ ( P > 0.05) from dark incubated broilers. All light incubated broilers had lower ( P < 0.05) plasma corticosterone and higher ( P < 0.05) plasma serotonin concentrations than dark incubated broilers. These results indicate that white light and red light that is a component of it are possibly the key spectrum to improving hatchability and lower fear and stress susceptibility, whereas green light is not as effective. Incubating broiler eggs under these spectrums could be used to improve hatchery efficiency and post-hatch animal welfare at the same time.

Pre-hatch Performance of Japanese Quails and Cobb500 Broiler Breeder Eggs Incubated Surrounded by Different Light Color Environments

“…Significant differences for early, mid and late embryonic mortality percentages among different light colors were recorded by (Shafey and Al-Mohsen, 2002). But non-significant differences among different light colors were recorded by (Archer 2017).…”

“…In addition, Hluchý et al (2012) had similar findings to this present study as Red light increasing hatchability. Archer (2017) found that the Red and White light treatments had a higher hatch of fertile eggs than those of both Green and Dark treatments, but he found that Green light did not improve hatchability in his study suggesting that the wavelength of light responsible for increased hatchability. On the other hand, this result disagreed with Bowling et al (1981) who reported a reduction in hatchability of White Leghorn eggs due to white lighted incubation.…”

“…Light intensity was 12W/m2 at the top surface of the eggs with wave length 600-630 nm for Red light and 510-530 nm for Green light. Lighting managements (Red and Green) were operated by automatic timer to 12 hours light and 12 hours off (12 L: 12 D) light schedule (Archer 2015). The front windows of incubator were blacked out with cardboard to prevent light intrusion into the machine.…”

“…Light color in incubation had significant effects on hatchability of chicken eggs (Shafey, 2004 andArcher 2017) and also on quail eggs (Shafey and Al-Mohsen 2002). Moreover, light had significant reduction of early and late embryonic mortalities of chicken eggs (Shafey and Al-Mohsen (2002).…”

Literature update on effective environmental enrichment and light provision in broiler chickens

“…Moreover, providing light during incubation has no negative effect on production or health of broilers (Archer, et al, 2009). Recently, it has been shown that exposing broiler eggs to white light and red light that is a component of it are possibly the key spectrum to improving hatchability and lower fear and stress susceptibility, whereas green light is not as effective during incubation (Archer, 2017). These studies have been conducted with eggs from fast-growing broilers, and it would be interesting to investigate how light provision during incubation of eggs from slow-growing broilers may affect behaviour and welfare of these birds in the post-hatch rearing period.…”