More energy efficient and longer lasting lamps are being used to repla
ce incandescent lighting in poultry houses. This paper reviews the res
ponses of domestic fowl, turkeys and geese to various sources of illum
ination. It concludes that there is no evidence that fluorescent or hi
gh pressure sodium lighting, irrespective of intensity or spectral dis
tribution, has any consistent detrimental effect on growth, food utili
zation, reproductive performance, mortality, behaviour or live bird qu
ality in either domestic fowl or turkeys, nor in the egg production of
geese. There are limited data to suggest that the use of fluorescent
lighting may be beneficial in the reduction of leg problems in meat ch
ickens. Notwithstanding that poultry may perceive low frequency fluore
scent light as discontinuous (at least in Europe), it does not appear
to compromise the welfare of poultry, and has been shown in one study
with laying fowl to be preferred to incandescent lighting.