In a hen house, the length of daylight is prolonged by using indoor lighting. the stimulus for egg laying is
(a) food
(b) warmth
(c) light
(d) amount of water.
The correct answer is option (c) light.
Light is found to have a significant effect on egg laying by hens in the hen houses or poultry. Photoperiod is the length of the time within a day to which the hens are exposed to sunlight or artificial source of light. Egg production is reduced if the light intensity and duration is reduced. A peak production of hens is observed with the photoperiod is lengthened or a longer photoperiod.
Natural day light exposure to hens results in the production of not more than 40 eggs. Whereas, a prolonged day light of 12- 14 hours by indoor lighting increases the number of eggs layed to around 60 eggs. Thus, the stimulus for egg laying is the light.
Thus, In a hen house, if the length of daylight is prolonged by using indoor lighting, the stimulus for egg laying is light.
