Guide · Lighting programs
Poultry lighting programs — photoperiod, lux & LED specs.
Lighting drives feed intake, welfare, sexual maturity and egg production. This vendor-neutral guide covers photoperiod, lux, flicker, spectrum and dimming so your RFQ specs LED lighting that meets breed guide and welfare rules.
Program parameters
Broiler brooding (0–7 d)
23L:1D at 30–40 lux — feed intake & activity
Broiler grow-out (8 d–slaughter)
18L:6D at 5–10 lux — welfare-compliant rest period
Layer rearing (0–16 wk)
Step-down 22L → 8–10L; maintain 10–20 lux
Layer production (17 wk+)
Step-up to 14–16L:8D at 10–20 lux; never decrease day length in lay
Breeder males
Separate feeder/water lighting; typically 14L peak season
Dimming range
0–100% flicker-free below 200 Hz PWM = welfare risk; use ≥ 2 kHz
Spectrum
Full-spectrum white 2700–5000 K; some layer programs use red-enriched
Uniformity
≥ 80% min/max ratio at bird level across the house
Program types
| Program | Scope |
|---|---|
| Broiler standard | 23L brooding → 18L grow-out, 5–10 lux, dimmable LED, welfare-compliant dark period |
| Layer step-down/step-up | Decreasing day length in rearing to delay sexual maturity, then increasing to trigger and hold peak lay |
| Breeder | Photostimulation program synchronised with body weight, separate hen/cock feeding light zones |
| Cage-free / aviary | Multi-level lux mapping (perches, litter, nest box) with graduated dawn/dusk simulation |
Specification workflow
- Confirm species and production phase (broiler, layer rearing, layer production, breeder)
- Pick photoperiod schedule aligned to breed guide (Cobb, Ross, Hy-Line, Lohmann)
- Set target lux at bird level and required uniformity
- Size LED fixture count from house area, mounting height and manufacturer photometric data
- Specify flicker-free driver (≥ 2 kHz PWM), dimming range and controller integration
- Add dawn/dusk simulation and blackout capability for welfare compliance
- Issue RFQ on identical lux, uniformity and dimming specs across manufacturers
Why it matters
Wrong photoperiod or lux directly hits performance — early sexual maturity, delayed peak lay, cannibalism in cage-free flocks, or welfare non-compliance. Flicker-free LED with a programmable controller is the commercial standard.
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FAQ
What photoperiod should I use for broilers?
The commercial standard is 23L:1D during brooding (days 0–7) at 30–40 lux to encourage feed and water intake, then 18L:6D from day 8 to slaughter at 5–10 lux. EU welfare rules require a minimum 6-hour dark period including at least 4 continuous hours after day 7.
How is layer lighting different?
Layer programs use a step-down day length in rearing (from 22L down to 8–10L by 16 weeks) to delay sexual maturity, then a step-up to 14–16L for production. Never decrease day length or lux once hens are in lay — it triggers moult and drops production.
What lux should I target?
Broilers: 30–40 lux in brooding, 5–10 lux in grow-out. Layer rearing: 10–20 lux. Layer production: 10–20 lux with even uniformity (≥ 80% min/max). Higher lux (30+) in cage-free nest areas discourages floor eggs.
Why does flicker matter?
Birds see flicker up to ~150 Hz — much higher than humans. LED drivers with PWM dimming below 200 Hz cause visible flicker to birds and are linked to stress and welfare issues. Specify drivers with PWM ≥ 2 kHz or true analogue dimming.
How does lighting connect to the house layout?
Uniformity depends on fixture spacing and mounting height, which are set by house width and ceiling height in the layout guide. Uniform light distribution needs fixtures spaced at roughly 1.0–1.5× mounting height apart in both directions.
Are LEDs worth the CAPEX vs incandescent or CFL?
Yes on any commercial project. LED energy use is 60–80% lower than incandescent and 30–50% lower than CFL, with 25,000–50,000 hour life vs 1,000 hours (incandescent). Payback on a full-house LED retrofit is typically 12–24 months on power savings alone.
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