Effects of Different LED Light Colors on Growth Performanceof Wenchang Chicken during Brooding Stage

【Objective】Based on the different needs of chickens for light environment at different stages, the optimal lighting system was studied. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of 7 LED light colors, namely, white, warm white, red, yellow, blue, green and purple, on the growth performance of Wenchang chicken during brooding stage, aiming to find out the most suitable light color for Wenchang chicken breeding.【Method】A total of 630 1-day-old Wenchang chicken (hen) of similar weight were randomly assigned to 7 different light color treatment groups. Each treatment included 3 replicated groups with 30 chicks per group. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum under cage culture. Lightwas available 24 hours every day and the test lasted for 8 weeks.【Result】The results showed that the 8-week-old chickens treated in blue light had an average body weight of up to 793.16 g, which was 58.68 g, 45.17 g, and 45.77 g heavier than those treated in red, white, and green light, showing significant differences. The average body weight gain of chickens in blue light was significantly different from that in red light, green light and white light, and the body weight gain of chickens in blue light was 45.12 g higher than that in white light, while the chickens in red light had the least body weight gain. During the whole period of the test, the weight uniformity of Wenchang chicken population in blue light was the best, with an evenness of above 90%. There was significant difference in body weight gain uniformity between blue light treatment and green light treatment, The chickens in blue light had the best body weight gain uniformity, followed by white light and warm white light treatments. White light treatment had the lowest feed conversion rate, which was significantly different from that of yellow light treatment. The chicken mortality was not significantly different among treatments.【Conclusion】Considering the growth weight, population weight uniformity and feed conversion ratio, compared with white light treatment, LED blue light could significantly promote the growth of Wenchang chickens during brooding stage and improve the uniformity of body weight, followed by purple light and yellow light treatments. While red light inhibited the growth of chickens, and green light treatment had the worst uniformity of body weight.