Effect of different colours of light during incubation on hatchability performance of broiler hatching eggs

A study was conducted to analyse the effect of different colours of light during incubation on hatchability performance of broiler hatching eggs at College of Poultry Production and Management, Hosur, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 600 broiler (Cobb 430Y) hatching eggs from broiler parent stock were selected and the eggs were grouped into four treatments of 150 eggs per treatment namely T1 (incubated under dark), T2 (incubated under red light), T3 (incubated under green light) and T4 (incubated under white light). The light sources used were Light Emitting Diode (LED). The light intensity at egg surface was adjusted to 180-200 lux. The 150 eggs per treatment were further grouped into three replicates equally (50 eggs per replicate). The T1, T2, T3 and T4 eggs were incubated in different setters (Dayal incubators) The LED lights of different colours were fixed on the egg trays except T1, because the T1 eggs were incubated under dark. The temperature of 99.5 to 100oF and relative humidity of 58 to 60 per cent were maintained in setter from 1 to 18 days of incubation. The lights were provided 24 hours up to 18 days. The eggs were turned once in an hour at 45o angle on both sides up to 18 days. On 18th day, all the eggs were transferred to hatcher and incubated under dark for last 3 days of incubation and the standard temperature (99.0oF) and relative humidity (68 to72%) were maintained. The parameters namely hatchability performance, embryonic mortality pattern, moisture loss, chick yield, chick weight at hatch, unhealed navel chicks, corticosterone and melatonin levels were recorded and the relative economics were worked out. Except corticosterone, other parameters had shown highly significant (P? 0.01) results between treatment groups. The chicks’ organs weight also recorded and only parameter showed significant (P?0.05) difference was claws weight, no other parameter showed significant difference between treatments. After comparing the different hatchability parameters of eggs under different lights, the eggs incubated under red light (T2) had better hatch on fertile eggs, lesser embryonic mortality, optimum moisture loss, chick yield and low cost of production per chicks. Hence, this study concluded that the broiler hatching eggs may be incubated under red light from 1 to 18 days (24 light, 200 lux light intensity) to get a greater number of chicks and more profit.