CHAPTER XXXI 



ARTIFICIAL ILLUMINATION 



Of all the recent developments in methods of poultry manage- 

 ment there is probably no one item which has greater potential 

 possibilities than that of artificial illumination to increase egg pro- 

 duction. It is a relatively new field of study and practice, hence 

 there is much to be learned and many points in its application which 

 the poultry keeper must watch over with care. The poultry raisers 

 of the Pacific Coast were among the first to ad opt lights in a large 

 way. During the past few years the use of lights by Eastern 

 growers has become a common practice. Many farmers are finding 

 them a decided aid in inducing winter production. The results and 

 suggestions given in this chapter are based, first, on very definite 

 work by the Poultry Department of the New Jersey Agricultural 

 Experiment Station at New Brunswick, New Jersey, during the 

 past two winters, where lights were used on 1,100 layers housed 

 in New Jersey Multiple-unit Laying Houses. Free use has been 

 made of questionnaires in studying the results secured from the 

 use of lights on poultry farms, with the result that it has been pos- 

 sible to include data covering every phase of the lighting problem 

 from some 160 flocks, representing over 100,000 birds. 



In general it may be said that artificial illumination, if properly 

 planned and handled, is a powerful factor for increasing production 

 and profit with poultry. It must be remembered, however, that 

 when birds are put under lights they are kept under a more or less 

 artificial condition, an unnatural and an unseasonable condition, 

 at least. Hence any faulty method of management or even very 

 simple mistakes in their care, due to carelessness or thoughtless- 

 ness, will react immediately in a very disastrous way. Such 

 reaction will affect both the health and productivity of the flock. 



It should be clearly understood that lighting is a feeding prob- 

 lem. By lengthening the hours of light and shortening the long 

 night span during the winter months, more time is given the birds 

 in which to consume more food and thus better nourish their 

 bodies and at the same time secure sufficient nutrients from which 

 to manufacture eggs in considerable numbers. 



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