THE EFFECTS OF COLOR OF LIGHTING ON THE BEHAVIOR AND PRODUCTION OF MEAT CHICKENS

Male and female meat chickens were reared for 28 d in blue, green, red , or white Light at 30 1x and the effects on tissue growth and bird be havior recorded. Birds reared in red or white Light were more active, as expressed by greater walking activity in the white light treatment and by greater floor-pecking, wing-stretching, and aggression in the r ed light treatment. In these two treatments, gut contents and skin and bone weights were reduced. After 28 d, the preference of the birds fo r blue, red, or green lights was determined, as well as residual effec ts of rearing color on bird growth. In the first few hours of the test , the birds chose to remain in their rearing color, except that the bi rds reared in red light quickly showed a preference for blue light. Af ter 1 wk, birds in all treatments showed a preference for blue light, except that the birds reared in blue light showed some preference for a novel color, green. It was concluded that blue or green light is pre ferable to red or white light for broilers because it keeps the birds calmer and is chosen by the birds themselves.