Name: Cruz, Alyssa V.

Date: November 4, 2019

Gr/Sec: 8-Adelfa Group no._

HATCHING CHICKEN EGGS USING COLORED LED LIGHT

TITLE: HATCHING CHICKEN EGGS USING COLORED LED LIGHTS

ABSTRACT:

Light manipulation has been an effective measure to improve poultry production. Providing light during

incubation has been shown to affect hatchability, but the use of LED lights has not been evaluated. This study

aims to evaluate the effects of using colored LED light during incubation of native chicken eggs on hatchability.

To determine this, the experiment will be carried out in four groups with total number of 8 eggs (2 eggs per

incubator). The eggs will be incubated 24 hours of the basic incandescent lighting (Set-up A) as the controlled

set-up and 24 hours of complete colored LED lighting, Set-up B with yellow LED light, Set-up C red LED light

and Set-up D with blue LED light, as the experimental groups. All groups will use 25W light bulbs. After

setting the condition of the artificial environment, the eggs will be carefully monitored through the conventional

way of incubating the eggs in terms of turning and candling, until the eggs reach the expected hatching period

of 21 days. The results will show that there are significant effects of colored LED lighting on hatchability of

native chicken eggs. There will be significant differences observed among the chick performance such as the

weight, vitality and mortality of the chicks in four groups in which chick weight at hatch was the heaviest in

group of eggs exposed to complete red LED lighting during incubation (Set-up C).

INTRODUCTION:

Hatching of eggs refers to the production of chicks. Traditionally, eggs were hatched by placing them

under broody hens. However, only 10 to 12 eggs can be put under 1 hen. This method of hatching is highly

unsatisfactory for large-scale production of baby chickens. To meet the high demand on poultry products,

producers are adopting new technologies that will enable them to increase production at a reduced cost.

Incubators, which provide similar environment as that of broody hens, are used at present for the hatching of

eggs. Most of these production technologies focus on enhancing the environmental conditions. These

environmental conditions are critical elements during chicken eggs incubation and hatching. By using light-

emitting diode (LED), breeders can increase production and reduce mortality with lower energy consumption

and longer life use than the conventional incandescent lighting. Native chickens have a good hatchability

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percent. During incubation, exposing eggs to light can increase the embryo’s growth and decrease time of

incubation. (Shafey, 2004)

This study will be conducted to investigate the effects of complete colored LED lighting during

chicken’s eggs incubation on hatchability and hatched chick quality.

This study pursued the previous research conducted by the researchers entitled Raising Broiler

Chickens Using Colored LED Light, in which the effects of using colored LED light to chicken performance

was tested. Furthermore, this study will determine the potential use of colored LED light in incubators.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

 Use 3 different colored LED lights in native chicken egg incubators;

 Use the traditional incandescent light in one incubator.

 Identify the effects of each light to the broiler chicken eggs during incubation.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

 How appropriate is a colored LED light as artificial light used in incubators considering the hatchability

rate of the eggs, vitality, mortality and chick performance upon hatching?

 Is there a significant difference between the degrees of appropriateness in using colored LED light in

incubators considering the color of light used?

 Is there a significant interaction among the type and color of light used, hatchability rate of the eggs,

vitality, mortality and chick performance upon hatching?

STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESES:

Ho1: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of the degree of appropriateness as artificial

light used in incubators considering the hatchability rate of the eggs, vitality, mortality and chick performance

upon hatching.

Ho2: There is no significant difference between the degrees of appropriateness in using colored LED light in

incubators considering the color of light used.

Ho3: There is no significant interaction among the type and color of light used, hatchability rate of the eggs,

vitality, mortality and chick performance upon hatching.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

Providing the correct kind of light will help boost incubation period among native chicken eggs, thus

resulting in higher and better chicken production rate. Through this study, the use of colored LED lights in

chicken incubators will stress its eco-friendly benefits such as high energy efficiency, long life, high reliability

and low maintenance costs, therefore making hatching native chicken eggs more effective. Through this study,

large scale producers will be benefited since using colored LED lights will have positive effects to chicken eggs

in terms of the period of hatchability, chick performance upon hatching, and increasing vitality rate.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION:

 This study will focus in using only the three kinds of experimental colored LED lights such as red, blue

and yellow and incandescent light as the controlled light.

 Native chicken eggs will be used in the experiment.

 The study will be conducted in 21-day experimental period.

 Conventional means of using incubator will be done in which temperature and humidity are set at

standard level.

PROCEDURE:

This study will be carried out at the residence of one of the proponents. To make this experiment

possible, the following materials will be needed: 4 improvised 1 x 1 ft. incubators, 3 pieces 25W LED light

bulbs, 1piece 25W incandescent light bulb, power source, 8 pieces fertilized native chicken eggs, dish with

water, dried hay, and thermometer.

Four improvised incubators will be made; one with incandescent lighting and 3 others with colored

LED lighting, all with 25W light bulb, all connected to a power source. Two (2) fertilized native chicken eggs

will be placed in each incubator. The eggs will be incubated 24 hours of the basic incandescent lighting (Set-up

A) as the controlled set-up and 24 hours of complete colored LED lighting, Set-up B with yellow LED light,

Set-up C red LED light and Set-up D with blue LED light, as the experimental groups. After setting the

condition of the artificial environment, the eggs will be carefully monitored through the conventional way of

incubating the eggs in terms of turning and candling, until the eggs reach the expected hatching period of 21

days.

REFERENCES:

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  Breed data sheet: Darag/Philippines. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2014

 Gongruttananun, N. Influence of red light on reproductive performance, eggshell ultrastructure, and eye

morphology in Thai-native hens. Poult. Sci. 90, 2855–2863 (2011).

 Hassan, M. R., Sultana, S., S. Choe, H. & S. Ryu, K. Effect of Combinations of Monochromatic LED

Light Color on the Performance and Behavior of Laying Hens. J. Poult. Sci. 51, 321-326 (2014).

 Huber-Eicher B., A. Suter and P. Spring-Stähli. 2013. Effects of colored light-emitting diode

illumination on behavior and performance of laying hens. Poult. Sci. 92(4):869-873. doi:

10.3382/ps.2012-02679

 Pyrzak, R., Snapir, N., Goodman, G. & Perek, M. The effect of light wave length on the production and

quality of eggs of the domestic hen. Theriogenology 28, 947–960.

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GLOSSARY

Artificial Environment- a model of the environment where the simulation model is operating.

Broody hen- broody hen is a chicken that has decided to sit on and hatch a clutch of eggs. The eggs may be
fertilized or unfertilized.

Eco-friendly- not harmful to the environment.

Hatchability- the state of being able to produce eggs; a measure of that ability.

Incandescent Light- is an electric light with a wire filament heated to such a high temperature that it glows
with visible light (incandescence).

Incubation- is the process by which certain oviparous (egg-laying) animals hatch their eggs; it also refers to the
development of the embryo within the egg.

Incubator- is a device simulating avian incubation by keeping eggs warm and in the correct humidity, and if
needed to turn them, to hatch them.

light emitting diode (LED)- is an energy saving alternative to other light sources commonly used
in poultry production.

Light manipulation- is the ability to create and manipulate light. Users can manipulate surface reflections and
the colors of objects as well as creating laser beams.

Native chicken- is also known by the name “Darag”; typically raised in the backyards of rural households.

Poultry- domestic fowl, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.

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