Artificial Light for Egg Production: Specific Type Bulb? Photos of pens, feeders and watering system

[dc3085]

Most people probably won't bother to read through this but if you really want to properly light your birds this will help you find the bulbs. Florescent tube fixtures with warm white light bulbs are probably the best choice for anyone not trying to use a high pressure sodium or metal halide lamp.

 

[cotquail]

I useLED's very low voltage,wattage seems to work well ,water is on gravity feed pipeline to nipples from reservoir on top, no problems so far great egg production , similar to gqf system. Excellent read dc3085 thanx for that.


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[HowieNZ]

The 10 watt works fine and looking at your setup I imagine 1 x 10 watt per cage will give sufficient light and use a reflective surface like Aluminium behind the bulb, the other thing I have found once the hens have started laying under lights they will continue for 3 to 4 weeks without the extra hours of light. I rotate my birds from my lighted cage which is set up in behind a window in my basement to my outside cages every two weeks. 40 watts no problem just I hate paying for unnecessary power.
regards Howard

 

[RichardandTresa]

DC3085,

Thank you for the read!

Tons of info and lots to consider. Looks like the writing applies to chickens? I'm guessing that it would also apply to Quail.

I do have the halogens ready with fixtures and bulbs, so I think I may try those first (Plus they would fit in between the cages as I have them set up in the battery frame...)

(We just got 4 more eggs since I posted last! ... This is big for us since these are our first!)

=D

We're farming! LOL!

Thanks everyone for your input...

cotquail: How many bulbs do you have per cage? They look blue in the photo... Is the color correct? or are you using the high output LEDs? (I have a lot of those too!)

Also, I'm assembling my version of your sand box (Clear plastic with angled lips at the opening going horizontal inwards about 1/4" and I also molded "keys" into the bottom so they will lock into place on the wire floor in two directions...

I'll post some photos in a couple of days... I have to thank you SO MUCH for the inspiration! I fell in love with your sand boxes the moment I saw them! Great job!

OK... back to work on my client prototype. I have an apprentice I'm teaching who is trimming and assembling the sand boxes...

Best,
Richard

 

[dc3085]

I too was in the dark about lighting until someone showed me that. (Sorry too good a pun to pass on)

I've found no one who bothered to do the research on quail specifically but all galliformes are similar in design.

 

[RichardandTresa]

Hi CotQuail!

Sorry if this is off subject and sorry it's taken so long to find you again... (I searched, but I don't think it was this thread?)

Anyway, So much going on around here! We've been getting eggs from each hen almost every day! (They're almost 7 weeks) Our Young (6 months at breeding) delivered her (and our) first litter of kits 11! One died on the wire and another just wasn't getting fed? (not growing at all), and dies this morning... Still, we have 9 super healthy new bunnies! =D With prototype work increasing ( I got two new clients last week!), I just ran out of time each day.

I wanted to share with you the sand boxes I made inspired by your canted (angled) sides!

I made them clear so we could find eggs more easily and see through them to the far side of the cage looking for eggs. I also added two additional angles to the opening including a top 1/4" lip that is horizontal. On the base, I molded in four square "keys" so that the box would stay trapped on the 1/2" X 1" wire floor in either direction ( found with the disposable aluminum roasting pans, they would slide around the cage often blocking the external feeders...

So here are the photos and THANK YOU for your inspiration! (I'm going to make more, one for each cage!)







Thanks again!

PS: If or when I ever get around to doing it, I think I'd make them a little taller... Some sand still get's thrown out. I think another inch or so would make a difference... Out of laziness, I think I'll rebuild the bottom mold to increase the height using straight sides... LOL!

OK... back to work. I just wanted to get back to you and this was the thread that showed up in my subscription box.

Best,
Richard