Artificial lighting links and discussion

[dc3085]

It pretty clearly states in the scientific information that I provided at the top that currently most LED lighting does not provide the proper wavelengths of light. And again as I've said before about a zillion times on BYC unless it's 0 degrees F or less your quail don't need heat. In the wild most coturnix exist is russia and nothern china, and previously in europe and japan, it gets really cold everywhere these birds are from naturally.

Putting birds under lights shortens their life spans. Putting birds under improper lights further shortens it.

 

[MeepBeep]

All I know is with the full spectrum at 6300k is supposed to be closer to normal sunlight, and my birds seems to play a lot more under it, which I equate to being happier. However, with them being more active they do seem to eat quite a bit more but grow slower. If that makes sense. This batch started laying much earlier under the full spectrum at 5.5 weeks. The hens under the 2700k light didn't start laying until almost 9 weeks. They came from same gene pool. Only difference in their setup was the light temperature.
I couldn't afford to buy that many of the full spectrum ccfl when I found them.

The full spectrum might very well spur the start of egg production, but for some reason or another based on studies 2700K give or take is better for sustained production...

FYI: The sunlight at the equator at high noon during mid summer is about 6500K... While 2700K is more of a spring or fall day sun color or a sunset/sunrise color...

Walmart sells both cool and warm light CFLs for the same price but at opposite ends of the light isle for some reason, the cool CFL section is usually smaller and tucked away while some stores lack it altogether... Find a Walmart that carries cool CFLs and right now around me with the local electric company subsidizing them they are only something like $2 for a pack of 4 60w equivalents... I personally use the better CFLs that have a secondary glass dome over the making them look like regular lights so that they don't get broken as easily...

 

[Nadeerah]

Those are LED lights. They are housed indoors with a heating system in addition to the lights.

 

[stephstuckman]

So once you put light up about how long does it take for them to start to lay again?

 

[jaybeeson18]

What can I buy that's battery powered that will give warmth? Can someone send me a link to something. My coop is down the garden and I can't have a wire going all the way down. I need something that has battery's

 

[dc3085]

Once you light them up give them two weeks to start laying again.

STOP TRYING TO KEEP YOUR QUAIL WARM I KEEP TELLING YOU IT DOESNT DO THEM ANY FAVORS. They don't need the heat and they won't produce the proper feathering for cold weather if you are running a light. Then all it takes is a burned out bulb to freeze all of your quail to death.

 

[stephstuckman]

When I had chickens i never added heat or light for them and they layed all year long. We get some cold temps here in Colorado too. We get bad spells of cold weather like -15 degrees F or colder occasionally and I never had my chickens get frozen toes or anything. My quails go into their little sleeping box together for the most part so they should be warm enough in there with their bodies huddled together.

 

[dc3085]

Been a while since I updated this thread. Here are some good examples of full spectrum bulbs.

http://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-Ligh...&sr=8-2&keywords=ge+full+spectrum+light+bulbs

http://www.amazon.com/Verliux-F32T8...&sr=8-6&keywords=ge+full+spectrum+light+bulbs

http://www.amazon.com/TCP-48923FS-S...sr=8-11&keywords=ge+full+spectrum+light+bulbs

 

[Gentry1350]

Thanks for the update, it bumped your thread. This is definitely something I need to read into a little further. I haven't received my eggs yet (they should be coming within the next week or so). We are rehabbing an old "stall" in a shed off our garage. It's about 5'x9', with an interior door into the shed, a huge door out the back and one regular, small house window on the north wall. I do need to install lighting, and want to use the proper lighting. I will be pushing egg production and plan on turning my flock more often. Thanks, again!

 

[kristenm1975]

Well darn, I wish I'd seen this thread when I was building my quail hutch last month. I've got a cool LED strand of outdoor rope lights tacked to the back of their cages. The way their hutch is situated, its dark in there at most any hour of the day so at this point I have the light on a timer to go on at dusk and stay for four hours. I have 23 quail nearing eight weeks old and only four laying. I'm beginning to wonder if they're still not getting enough light, or possibly not the right sort of light. They're on the best possible feed, 28% protein and free choice grit, oyster shell, alfalfa hay and fresh kelp off the beach, not to mention fresh sandboxes to play in. Spoiled little gals. I better see some eggs pretty soon.
Edited to add: I have only one possible male in the bunch and each bird has a square foot of pen, so that shouldn't be an issue.