The Best LED Lighting for Poultry Houses

If you raise chickens, you already know the importance of choosing quality poultry lights. From brooding chicks to laying hens, the right LED lighting for poultry houses helps ensure healthier animals and better returns. 

What’s the Best Lighting for Baby Chicks?

How many hours of light do chickens need? Well, that depends on where they are in their life cycle. 

Baby chick light wattage is vital for healthy development. By mimicking natural daylight, chicks’ circadian rhythms will help establish regular feeding and resting patterns. The right LED poultry lighting also encourages adequate food and water consumption (which boosts growth and immune system development). 

After hatching, brooding chicks need continuous lighting for the first 72 hours. This helps chicks find food and water). We recommend: 

• 20 lux (or 2 foot candles) for 200 square feet of floor space. 
• Warm-white for LED light color. 

Note: If you prefer 23 hours of light, be sure that your light source doesn’t serve as your heat source, too. You’ll need to maintain temperatures that are just over 91ºF (or 33ºC). 

Growing Chicks

Through the 19-week mark, growing chicks should be kept in 5 lux (or .5 foot candle) light between 9 and 11 hours per day. Once they’re 20 weeks old, start increasing light exposure by ½ hour every week. This pattern should continue until they’re 72 weeks old.

Related: Check out more of our agricultural lighting! 

How Much Light Do Laying Chickens Need?

By the time they’re 72 weeks old, chickens should be kept under 10-30 lux (or 1-3 foot candles). It’s recommended to keep them under 16-17 hours of daylight. 

LED lights for laying hens play a huge role in egg production and overall health. When correct, the intensity and duration helps to: 

• stimulate reproductive hormones (like GnRH) which encourages consistent egg production
• create stronger shells and better egg quality
• reduce aggression in laying hens
• promote a calmer flock 

The Best Lighting for Breeder Chickens

Breeder chickens require a slightly different lighting regime. Consider the light guidelines for chicken coops:

• Between 4 days and 3 weeks: 5 lux (0.5 foot candles) for 15 hours per day.
• Between 3-19 weeks: 5 lux (0.5 foot candles) for 11 hours per day. 
• Between 20-60 weeks: 50-60 lux (5-6 foot candles). Start at 11 hours per day and increase 30 minutes per week until you reach 17 hours of daylight. 

Why Are LED Tubes Better for Poultry Lighting?

LED tubes are preferable for poultry houses because of their consistent, efficient lighting.  To improve animal welfare, energy efficiency, and productivity, we’re proud to provide the highest-quality LED lights that meet chicken farmers’ needs. 

1. Lower Energy Bills 

Farmers need to stay within their margins, and LED lighting can save over 75% on lighting bills alone. 

2. Longer Lifespan 

Changing light bulbs and tubes can add up fast. LEDs last more than 2x longer than fluorescent equivalents – and over 40x longer than incandescent bulbs! 

3. Increased Safety

There are a number of reasons to consider LED lights for poultry houses: 

• Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs can shatter, causing a risk of sharp fragments and hazardous waste. Most LED lights are considered “shatterproof,” especially when encased properly. 
• By reducing shadows, LED lights help farm staff spot potential injuries, infections, and hazards far more easily. 

Note: To ensure greater safety, Lumen Right recommends sturdy vapor-tight light fixtures. 

4. Reduced Fire Hazards

High temperatures and heat fluctuations can quickly cause stress, overheating, reproductive issues, or even death. Chicken coops and hen houses are some of the dustiest places on a farm. Due to high temperatures, incandescent bulbs can explode and cause fires when dust, manure, bedding, and feathers are present. 

When it comes to heat efficiency, LED farm lights generate lower temperatures than traditional bulbs, drastically reducing the risk of fire:  

5. Lighting Uniformity

Like most birds, chickens are sensitive to light. LEDs minimize dark spots by offering directional lighting. LEDs are also designed to turn on instantly and eliminate flickering that fluorescent tubes are famous for.  

Switch to Lumen Right’s LED Lights for Poultry Houses! 

As one of Texas’ leading agriculture light sellers, Lumen Right is committed to selling products that improve operations and increase your bottom lines. We don’t just work with the best US-made products: We also back them with a 10-year warranty. 

Reach out to our experts for a free custom lighting layout!