Method of improving egg production in poultry hens

• US 4,765,337 A
• Filed: 07/28/1986
• Issued: 08/23/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward B. Hunter
• Original Assignee: Edward B. Hunter
• Inventors: Schonberg, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Application Number:
  US06/889,662
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 128/23, 128/24.1, 128/303.1, 128/362, 128/395-398, 128/633, 128/634, 604/20, 119/1, 119/21, 119/35, 119/37, 119/39, 252/301.4 R, 313/486, 362/84, 362/260
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/00 Botany in general
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 45/00 Other aviculture appliances, e.g. devices for determining whether a bird is about to lay
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

A method of improving egg production in poultry by irradiating poultry with energy levels, the first one of which is within a wavelength band of 600 to 670 nanometers and is delivered at a rate of at least 10¹³ quanta/second/cm², and, in the case where this first radiation is less than 10¹³ quanta/second/cm², at least 75% of the total delivered energy is within the first wavelength band. The second radiation energy level is within a wavelength band of 400 to 600 nanometers and is delivered at a rate of at least 10¹⁴ quanta/second/cm², and, in the case where this second radiation is less than 10¹⁴ quanta/second/cm², at least 80% of the total delivered energy is within the wavelength band of 400-600 nanometers. The invention also includes a control of the time during which the irradiation is delivered.

Claims

1. A method for improving egg production in poultry hens comprising:

irradiating said hens with a first radiation comprising a near-red radiation within a wavelength band of 600 to 670 nanometers after said hens have attained proper body weight for sexual development to proceed;

said near-red radiation being delivered to said hens at a rate of at least 10¹³ quanta/second/cm² or, if said near-red radiation is delivered at a rate of less than 10¹³ quanta/second/cm², said near-red radiation within a wavelength band of 600 to 670 nanometers comprising at least 75% of said first radiation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the source of said first radiation is a first fluorescent light and at least 75% of said first radiation is said near-red radiation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first radiation from said first fluorescent light has a spectral distribution with no more than about 1% of its radiation with a wavelength greater than about 700 nanometers.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first fluorescent light comprises a phosphor of magnesium fluorogermanate having a fluorescence peaking at a wavelength of about 650 nanometers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said poultry is irradiated with a second radiation before being irradiated with said first radiation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said poultry are irradiated with said first radiation for only a first length of time each day before said poultry have attained said proper body weight;

and wherein said poultry are irradiated with said first radiation for a second length of time each day after said poultry have attained said proper body weight;

said second length of time being greater than said first length of time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first length of time is only about 8 to 9 hours each day and said second length of time is up to about 14 to 16 hours each day.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said near-red radiation is within a wavelength band of 620 to 670 nanometers.