Artificial lighting and Vitamin D

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

For those that wish to, or are forced to, use artificial lighting for their birds

When growing out chicks they require Vitamin D, not many are able to have chicks running loose and getting a dose of sunlight each day. Meaning the chicks are not getting adequate Vitamin D.

Many say “Just give them Vitamins.”
Yes vitamins are a useful tool in helping chicks to grow out healthy and strong
(bearing in mind a good diet is also needed for this outcome)

However the use of artificial lighting also helps =
Adequate exposure to UV light is the most important tool for Vitamin D conversion/absorption.

Reptile UV lights (they look like mini Fluro lights but are different in their output) are a valuable resource when you are either unable or unwilling to give vitamins 24/7; these lights emit the correct UV to allow the reptiles, and your birds to process it into Vitamin D.

So =
When either choosing to, or being forced to, use artificial lighting = use these reptile UV lights at the rate of 50/50 with regular White Daylight lights, and it should help dramatically reduce the risk of Rickets and other Vitamin D deficient problems

These reptile lights are the screw in type so you will need the correct fixture = a cover that blocks the human equation from having to look directly at the bulb. I found that the large heat lamp covers once modified make excellent fixtures/covers and they direct all the light down onto the birds where it is needed.
Alternately you may be able to convert portable floodlights and attach a lamp cover over them = just so long as it is a screw in fixture with a cover.

^ note the reptile lights have a different shaped hub (square, rounding slightly to the top) to household mini fluro lights (round)

TackyHenHouse · **Joined:** Tue Jul 23, 2013 1:22 pm **Posts:** 6

Can you tell me what wattage you use please? I see there is 3 levels not sure which one to use

P_Edwards · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:50 am **Posts:** 71403

They are around the 26w from what I have read

TackyHenHouse · **Joined:** Tue Jul 23, 2013 1:22 pm **Posts:** 6

Excellent I was not sure if it needed to be higher than the 25-30w

P_Edwards · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:50 am **Posts:** 71403

No that wattage is plenty just make sure you have enough placed evenly apart

chook5coop · **Joined:** Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:49 am **Posts:** 4

Why would you be forced to use artificial lighting?

TackyHenHouse · **Joined:** Tue Jul 23, 2013 1:22 pm **Posts:** 6

Longer light means more eggs

chook5coop · **Joined:** Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:49 am **Posts:** 4

Sorry did realise she was talking about commercial laying hens

P_Edwards · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:50 am **Posts:** 71403

Yes mostly for commercial breeds like Isa Browns ect..

chook5coop · **Joined:** Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:49 am **Posts:** 4

Thanks I thought as much

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Artificial lighting and Vitamin D

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