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Poultry Lighting

The light we see affects our mind and a wide variety of metabolic processes without on our body. Eyes are undeniably one of our most important organs. It is where light penetrates the retina and stimulates multiple biological functions. The light we perceive is part of the electromagnetic spectrum our eyes can detect, known as the visible spectrum.

The same is true in animals, including poultry, but with one significant difference. The spectral sensitivity and visible spectrum of poultry, or what they actually see, is not the same as humans. It is why chickens or turkeys may behave differently under the same intensity light from two different sources that look identical to us. Chickens and turkeys absorb light through their eyes in a way humans don't. In addition to retinal light perception, poultry can sense light through the pineal gland commonly called the "third eye" situated on the dorsal surface of the brain. The avian pineal gland is particularly involved in the control of circadian rhythms and sexual activity. A circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle in the biochemical, physiological and behavioral processes of all animals.

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Differences between the spectral sensitivity of poultry and humans

It is important to understand that light is made up of wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum. Different wavelengths indicate colors in the visible spectrum … that portion which is visible to, and can be detected by, the animal eye. A typical human eye will respond to wavelengths from about 400 nm (violet) to 750 nm (deep red) with a significant sensitivity peak at 555 nm (green). There is actually no white, or natural light "wavelength". Natural white light is merely a combination of different color wavelengths. Think of how light traveling through a prism turns into visible monochromatic colors of light. Now mentally reverse the process where the colors combine and turn into visible light where we don't discern the individual colors - even though they exist and play a role in what we see and how we feel or act.The first graph shows the photopic (day vision) relative spectral sensitivity of the human eye compared to that of domestic fowl. Both show a similar sensitivity peak in the green spectrum. Poultry, however, are considerable more sensitive to red and blue light - and can see UV light humans do not. This reveals that perceived light intensity is considerably higher for poultry.

Using the distinct advantages of LEDs as a lighting source, designs of the AgriShift Poultry Lights have been tailored to follow the spectral sensitivity curve of domestic fowl by using advanced, patent pending processes. In addition, advanted proprietary AC LED conditiontion technology has been incorporated into the circuitry that enables smooth, selective LED dimming using standard commercial dimmers. This allows LEDs of different colors within the same lamp to be dimmed independently.