AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

You could use the lighting for other fancy breeds in place where days are very short like tasmania

Oh yeh didn't think of that the days there are super short in winter

Yep the shortest day in tassie is 9 hours of light

SOme very short days in Victoria to

Good point Bill

A few points here.
1) Ideally, UV lights for birds should be used, not for reptiles.
The spectrum of light is different between the two and the bird ones eg Arcadia lights are preferable

2) The birds need to be within 60 cm of the light, otherwise the UV rays fail to reach them. Having the lights further away is a waste of time

3) The globes need to be changed every 6 months. Even though they may appear to work after this, the UV part of the spectrum may not work. Our eye cannot detect this. You need a UV meter if you want to be sure.

The above lighting has nothing to do with extending light hours to promote egg laying during the winter months. You can do this with normal lights.

UV lights have everything to do with increasing vitamin D3 levels in the winter months which help maximise calcium absorption. This helps normal bone development in growing chicks and poults, and may increase/extend egg production in laying hens when combined with increased hours of daylength provided by artificial lighting.

There is also evidence that increasing vitamin D3 levels may help improve immune function in birds also.

Excellent post Parvo




LooLoo

Thank you Parvo very informative.

Would it be an advantage to put a UV light in with my broody when her chicks have hatched. I can put it next to the nest box, hanging in the landing before the ladder to downstairs?