The Effect of Monochromatic and Mixed LED Light Colour on the Behaviour and Fear Responses of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

This study observed the effect of different LED light colour on the behaviour and fear responses of broilers. In experiment 1, 400 broilers were placed into eight different light treatments. In experiment 2, six different light colours with five different age groups were considered. In experiment 1, use of a red and red–yellow mixed light significantly increased walking behaviour. Consequently, sitting and standing behaviour were found to be wavelength dependent, whereby short wavelength (blue, green–blue) treated birds spent more time sitting and standing than that under long wavelength (red, red–yellow). Consistently in experiment 2, birds spent more time feeding under the green treatment than with other treatments. Walking behaviour was significantly decreased and sitting and standing behaviour was increased under the blue light. Age also influenced the behaviour of broiler: young birds were more active than older birds. In addition, ground pecking and wing stretching behaviour were influenced by the wavelength of the light. Time of day did not influence the behaviour of the broilers. Under the red and red–yellow light treatments, birds spent longer in tonic immobility. Thus, the results suggest that red and red–yellow light activated the broiler's movement and fear responses while blue and green-blue decreased the movement and they spent more time sitting.