Broiler lighting programme: how much light and darkness your flock needs
The lighting programme drives feed intake, growth rate and leg health. Learn the EU rules — at least 6 h of darkness per day and 20 lux of light — plus practical light schedules.
verifiedFrom the team that has organised work on poultry farms for years.
Why does a broiler need a lighting programme?
Light controls the bird's daily rhythm: when it eats, when it rests and how it grows. A well-designed lighting programme improves feed conversion, evens out the flock and reduces health problems. A poor one — with continuous light around the clock — leads to over-fast weight gain in the first weeks, weaker legs, higher mortality and a restless flock. The lighting programme is one of the cheapest tools a farmer has to influence the result of a cycle.
The role of darkness — why birds must sleep
A dark period is not lost production time. At night the bird's body secretes melatonin, the immune system recovers, and the leg bones get a chance to catch up with the fast-growing muscles. Broilers grow so quickly that their skeleton can be overloaded. Regular darkness slows that surge at the right moment, so the limbs develop in proportion. A flock with a proper dark period is calmer, pecks each other less and has better foot quality.
How light affects feed intake and growth
In the first days after placement, chicks need plenty of light to find feed and water — which is why the programme starts with almost continuous lighting. Over time, longer nights are introduced, which naturally regulates appetite and growth rate. Light intensity matters: too bright across the whole cycle stimulates activity and nervousness, while too dim makes it hard for birds to reach the feeders. Gradual dimming after the first week settles the flock and improves feed conversion.
The lighting programme and the EU welfare rule
A lighting programme is not just a production choice — it is a legal obligation. Directive 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production requires lighting of at least 20 lux during the lighting periods (measured at bird eye level, covering at least 80% of the usable area) and, within a 24-hour rhythm, a period of darkness lasting at least 6 hours in total, including one uninterrupted period of darkness of at least 4 hours. These rules apply from day 7 after placement until 3 days before the planned slaughter date.
Recording the lighting programme in DlaFerm.pl
During an inspection, the Veterinary Inspection service may ask for documentation of the lighting programme — the light on and off times across the days of the cycle. DlaFerm.pl lets you keep this record digitally, together with the rest of your flock data: stocking, mortality and observations from the house. Everything is in one place and ready to show, instead of digging through notes in a binder.
Turkeys — a different lighting programme from broilers
Turkeys follow a different lighting schedule from broiler chickens and the two must not be confused. In the first days of rearing, turkeys need a very long, bright day — approximately 23 hours of light per day — so they quickly find feed and water. The day length is then gradually reduced towards roughly 8 hours in later weeks. Colour temperature also matters: Aviagen Turkeys guidelines recommend a cooler light source (approximately above 4 000 K), which promotes a calmer flock and reduces the risk of pecking. This is an entirely different pattern from broilers, which is why farms keeping both species should maintain separate records and apply the correct programme for each. For more detail, see the guides: turkey lighting programme and turkey rearing — the first days.
What a broiler lighting programme must meet
These parameters come from Directive 2007/43/EC and from good husbandry practice.
At least 6 h of darkness per day
Within a 24-hour rhythm there must be at least 6 hours of darkness in total. This is a requirement of Directive 2007/43/EC — not advice, but a legal obligation that applies on the farm.
Uninterrupted block of at least 4 h darkness
Of those 6 hours, at least one block must be continuous and last a minimum of 4 hours, excluding dimming periods. Short, broken-up gaps do not meet this requirement.
At least 20 lux during the lighting phase
During the lighting period, light intensity must be at least 20 lux, measured at bird eye level and covering at least 80% of the usable area of the house.
Window in which the rules apply
The light and darkness rules apply from day 7 after the chicks are placed until 3 days before the planned slaughter. In the first week, almost continuous lighting is used for a good start.
Temporary exceptions only on veterinary advice
The directive allows a temporary reduction in lighting levels, but only when necessary and advised by a veterinarian. It must not be done at will.
Even distribution of light
Light should reach the whole house evenly. Dark corners discourage birds from using the feeders and drinkers, which harms flock uniformity.
Practical lighting schedules by age
The schedule is adjusted to flock age and production goal — below is a typical broiler cycle.
Days 1–7: start with plenty of light
After placement, chicks need almost continuous light (e.g. 23 h light and 1 h darkness) so they quickly find feed and water and get off to a strong start. This is a short window before the daily rhythm begins.
From day 7: introduce a longer night
From day 7, a dark period in line with the directive is introduced — at least 6 h of darkness per day, including an uninterrupted block of at least 4 h. A schedule of 18 h light and 6 h darkness is often used.
Middle phase: a stable daily rhythm
In the middle of the cycle a steady light–dark rhythm is maintained so the flock has predictable feeding and resting times. A stable schedule supports uniformity and a calm flock.
Gradual dimming after the first week
After the start, light intensity is lowered (staying above 20 lux during the lighting phase), which calms the flock, reduces nervousness and improves feed use.
LED control and smooth dimming
Energy-efficient LED lighting with smooth dimming lets you set intensity precisely and simulate dawn and dusk instead of switching the light off abruptly. Gentle transitions reduce bird stress.
Before slaughter: back to a longer day
From 3 days before the planned slaughter, the mandatory darkness rules no longer apply — the light day is then usually extended to make catching and handling the flock easier.
Frequently asked questions about broiler lighting programmes
How many hours of darkness per day must a broiler have?add
Under Directive 2007/43/EC, a 24-hour rhythm must include at least 6 hours of darkness in total, including one uninterrupted period of darkness of at least 4 hours (excluding dimming). The rule applies from day 7 after placement until 3 days before slaughter.
What light intensity is required in a broiler house?add
Directive 2007/43/EC requires at least 20 lux during the lighting periods, measured at bird eye level and covering at least 80% of the usable area of the house.
Why do broilers need a dark period?add
Darkness gives the birds time to rest and recover. At night melatonin is secreted, immunity strengthens, and the leg bones catch up with the fast muscle growth. A flock with a proper dark period is calmer and has better foot quality and lower mortality.
Do chicks also need darkness in the first days?add
In the first week after placement, almost continuous lighting is used so chicks quickly find feed and water. The obligation to provide at least 6 h of darkness per day starts from day 7 of the flock's life.
Is LED lighting suitable for a broiler house?add
Yes. LED with smooth dimming is energy-efficient and lets you set light intensity precisely and gently simulate dawn and dusk. Smooth transitions between light and darkness reduce stress and the risk of panic in the flock.
How do I document the lighting programme during an inspection?add
It is worth keeping a record of light on and off times across the days of the cycle. DlaFerm.pl lets you save this data digitally together with stocking, mortality and observations, so the documentation is ready to show the Veterinary Inspection service.
Does the same lighting programme suit both turkeys and broilers?add
No. Turkeys and broilers follow different lighting schedules. Turkeys start with a very long day (approximately 23 h) that is gradually shortened towards roughly 8 h in later weeks. Broilers follow a different pattern, and the recommended colour temperatures also differ. On a farm keeping both species, it is worth maintaining separate records and applying the right programme for each.
Sources & resources
- linkCouncil Directive 2007/43/EC — minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- linkAviagen / Ross — broiler flock management resources (lighting programme)
- linkEFSA — farm animal welfare, including broilers
- linkEFSA — welfare of broilers and laying hens on farm (infographic)
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