[The effect of different lighting programs on the condition and behavior of fattening chickens]

Four (in some cases five) broiler flocks for every of the five lighting programs (LP) with artificial light (A: 24 hours light = 24 l, 0 hours dark = 0 d; B: 16 l, 8 d; C: 14 l, 4 d, 2 l, 4 d) and with daylight (D: 16 l, 8 d; E: 16 l, 8 d with twilight) were investigated at the age of 3-5 (KB), 28-30 (U1) and 38-40 (U2) days and during catching action. The birds kept in the LP C showed a significantly better feathering than the birds in the other LPs and the birds in the LP B a better than the birds kept in A, D and E. All the parameters describing locomotion showed a decreasing mobility during fattening. In the LP A locomotion was significantly more disturbed than in the other LPs. Tests to investigate the nervousness of the flocks never induced panic reactions. The birds of LP A reacted always less active than the other birds, except in the flash light test. No problems occurred during catching actions in all the flocks. Fattening performances and the results from the slaughter houses for the birds kept in 24 hours light (LP A) were not better than for the birds kept in the other LPs.