Do ducklings need light at night: when and how much to turn on, requirements

In order for the living conditions in the bird shed to be comfortable, it is important to equip it correctly and, first of all, we are talking about lighting. The length of daylight affects the physiological processes in the body and, together with temperature, proper lighting plays an important role in growing. To understand whether ducklings need an additional source of light at night, you need to focus on their age and daylight hours.

Do ducklings need light at night

Many poultry farmers are concerned about whether ducks and ducks need light at night.For the full growth and development of small ducklings, a light source is necessary at night, but for adult birds it is not necessary if year-round egg production is not needed. With the right lighting regimen, ducklings increase the number of red blood cells, improve metabolism and accelerate the growth process.

So do ducklings need to turn off the lights all night or just for a few hours? Babies who have reached the age of one week are raised with daylight hours lasting 20 hours, after which the time is gradually reduced to 16.

Pay attention! The level of lighting intensity per 1 square meter of the barn area should not exceed 4 watts.

At night, some of the lighting devices are turned off, or their power is reduced to 2 watts per 1 square meter. In order to avoid the death of some individuals, it is important for a poultry farmer who wonders whether ducklings need to leave a light in the barn at night, it is important to know that in the dark the kids are frightened and crowded - this leads to a lack of oxygen and suffocation.At the same time, too bright lighting devices can adversely affect the brood, since weak chicks can become cannibalistic.

Basic requirements for light

In order for newborn chicks to fully develop, and adult ducks to lay stably, it is necessary to provide a sufficient amount of natural and artificial lighting in the house.

Natural source - window opening. It is recommended to make the opening large and facing south. It is desirable that the window opens in both directions - this way the barn will be ventilated.

Artificial sources can be: LED lamps, as well as sodium, metal halide, fluorescent lamps and incandescent lamps. The optimum lamp life is 15 hours.