Light during incubation

[Debbie292d]

A couple of years ago I was questioned on my silkie thread when I posted a picture of my incubators in front of a west window. Granted, any sun coming in, even if indirect, could effectively raise the temperature of the eggs and/or the incubator, so I keep the window double-shaded.

That said, I just read an article summarizing studies in which eggs exposed to light during incubation can behave differently, in a positive manner, after hatching, than those that were kept in the dark.

Pretty "enlightening" info!

https://www.poultryworld.net/health-nutrition/health/could-light‑incubated-eggs-benefit-chicks/

 

[thecatumbrella]

That was a good read! In their testing, it made a lot of sense. An egg under "continuous darkness" wouldn't have exposure to any stimuli. Chickens also have a different relationship to light than we do, with their extra cones or receptors (or whatever the eyeball terms are).

It makes me wonder how chicks under a broody hen would fit in this spectrum. Mom obviously gets up to leave a couple times a day, but she provides more darkness than lights on a timer, and nests would typically be more private/shaded overall.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[2ndTink]

That's really interesting! Great find and thanks for sharing! My incubators get just indirect daylight for the first hatch then scheduled light after that as I turn the lights on for the day for the chicks and off at night. I'll have to see if this second hatch behaves any differently (also, not sure I'd notice ).

 

[Debbie292d]

That was a good read! In their testing, it made a lot of sense. An egg under "continuous darkness" wouldn't have exposure to any stimuli. Chickens also have a different relationship to light than we do, with their extra cones or receptors (or whatever the eyeball terms are).

It makes me wonder how chicks under a broody hen would fit in this spectrum. Mom obviously gets up to leave a couple times a day, but she provides more darkness than lights on a timer, and nests would typically be more private/shaded overall.

Thanks for sharing!

You're welcome!

Hen hatched chicks always act like we're the monster, so perhaps lack of light could play a part. Mostly, it's the lack of human interaction, I'm sure, though.

On that note, we've noticed that some brooders of chicks are very friendly from the start, and others cry and run to the corner to huddle up. The amount of light is consistent over all hatches.

Our first hatch last week was an extremely friendly bunch, running over to us when we walked up. The only thing I can think of is that I was so excited and talked to them when they were in lockdown several times a day. I'm sure most people talk to them after they hatch though. Maybe there's a study about that too!