creators_name: Gnan, Renate
creators_name: Hirt, Helen
creators_name: Zeltner, E.
editors_name: Heß, J
editors_name: Rahmann, G
type: conference_item
datestamp: 2005-03-05
lastmod: 2009-08-20 14:24:16
metadata_visibility: show
title: Einfluss von Licht im Brutschrank auf das Verhalten von Junghennen
ispublished: pub
subjects: 9poultry
subjects: 7animalhealth
full_text_status: public
keywords: Tierhaltung und Zucht, Geflügel, Brüterei
livestock husbandry and breeding, poultry, commercial brooder
Biogeflügelhaltung, 
abstract: Imitated natural light conditions during the artificial incubation may influence pullets' behaviour in being adapted to the diurnal rhythm. To study these effects, eggs were set in a commercial incubator either in the dark control or under full spectrum light tubes (Philips TL95, 36 watt). To imitate the light changes by a clucking hen, the eggs were exposed to light for twelve hours a day with a light-intensity of 20 lux. After six hours there was a step-up in light intensity to 1000 lux for 20 minutes. After hatching, the chickens were reared in paired groups under BIO SUISSE organic standards. Each group, containing 1000 pullets, was observed at the age of 2, 4, 8 and 10 weeks in 5 trials. Several categories of behaviour, activity and the diurnal rhythm were observed. Weight, feather scoring and injuries at the age of 10 weeks were recorded. 
There is no clear evidence that light exposure during the incubation period affects the diurnal rhythm and behaviour of young laying hens. It seems to be, that the rearing conditions and management are still more important. 

date: 2005
date_type: published
publication: Ende der Nische, Beiträge zur 8. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau
publisher: kassel university press GmbH, Kassel
refereed: yes
citation: Gnan, Renate; Hirt, Helen and Zeltner, E. (2005) Einfluss von Licht im Brutschrank auf das Verhalten von Junghennen. [Effect of lighted incubation on the behaviour of laying hen pullets.] 8. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau – Ende der Nische, Kassel, 01.03.2005 - 04.03.2005. In: Heß, J and Rahmann, G (Eds.) Ende der Nische, Beiträge zur 8. Wissenschaftstagung Ökologischer Landbau, kassel university press GmbH, Kassel.
document_url: http://orgprints.org/3619/1/3619.pdf