The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-01-06
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
AND! HEN DISEASE
LONGER DAY MAKES HEN
EAT MORE FEED WHICH
SHE MAY NOT DIGEST
She Uses Up Body Material Which
Forcing Does Not Give Time to
Replace Properly.
w. T. Johnson, Veterinarian.

w. T. Johnson, Veterinarian.
Artificial illumination OF poultry for
egg production as applied by many
poultrymen often bears an important
relationship to the onset OF disease.
To minimize this tendency study OF
the principles involved in this partial
shifting of egg production away from
the natural season becomes essential.
The application of these principles
should be carried out in such manner
IA to harmonic them with the general
scheme of poultry production.
1t has been clearly demonstrated
that increased egg production accom-
panied by lengthening of the birds
working day is due to the fact that
more food Is consumed. The greater
exR production follows the consump'
ton of more food. 1t is reasonable to
suppose and practice seems to bear 1t
out that birds kept under conditions
of artificial illumination consume more
food in a years time than the non.
lighted. This added food intake to-
gether with the other unnatural con-
ditions produced, especially when this
food intake is of high protein con-
tent, throws a greater work upon all
the organs OF the body and tends to-
ward a shortening Of their period OF
activity.
More Light, More Feed
Lighting as related to feeding seems
to be the combination most RESPONSE
BILE for higher percentage of disease.
THIS is more forcibly evidenced when
the birds are supplied with mash OF
high animal protein content, prepared
with extreme palatability as a requi-
site. Such feeds although composed
of necessary food constituents may be
fed in amounts great enough to pro-
duce disease even without lengthen-
ing of the day. It then becomes ap-
parent that feeding must be more care
fully carried out with winter egg pro-
duction than would be the case in in
stances Of keeping the flock under
more natural conditions.
Where lighting is practiced melting
brings up another problem for consid-
GRAFTON, in order to hold the mortality
rate as low as possible. Birds select
ed from the pullet flock to be kept
over for egg production should be CIV
en- time enough to at least completely
20 through the mott before being sub
jected to an increased work day, as
otherwise more deaths and diseases
are likely to result. Sufficient time
must be given to permit the body to
store up the necessary reserve supply
of materials required to maintain the
proper chemical balance of the body.
Even though time has been given to-
permit the fowls to go through COM
plete melting period without the use
of lights, the application Of this meas.
ure generally produces some loss. On
the average this loss exceeds that in
the case of pullets.
Forced Eggs Poor Breeders
1t appears that Matching eggs must
be selected with greater care since
the advent of lighting in order to Sc
cure vigorous offspring. Many expert
enced poultrymen do not use lights
with their breeders, but when Matching
eggs are demanded during the winter,
lights are commonly employed to bring
the breeding flock into laying. Elk.
perience with certain hocks leads to
the belief that breeding hens producing
early Matching eggs-such as in Janu-
airy. February and March-by the aid
OF artificial lights and at the rate of
20 to 90 per cent production, produce
eggs capable of developing into Wig
orous chick for a period only approx
mating 80 days in length. 1t is evi.
dent then from such observation that
to continue to hatch the eggs Of such
hens through the natural Matching sea-
son becomes a questionable practice.
Food Not Enough
It has been determined that during
q period of heavy laying the food con:
sumed by the bird normally does not
contain enough Of all the constituents
to complete egg formation. In order
to turn out a complete product at such
frequent intervals a reserve in various
parts of the body such as in the skin
and bones is drawn upon to furnish
certain materials. Under natural con.
ditions mature fowls have a period OF
several months suspended egg produc-
ton and, during this interval, time 10
given for again building up the reserve
supply in the body. This lapse in egg
laying comes Just prior to the natural
Matching season. 1t appears reason
able to assume that there is correla.
ton between the length Of time pro-
vided for replacing this reserve supply
and the duration of high quality hatch.
ing egg production. II this be true, the