I'm setting up a backyard chicken coop and need advice on lighting and perches. What type of light encourages egg production? Also, what are the recommended dimensions for perches, including space per hen and spacing from walls and other perches? What are the potential risks of using perches?
Navigate to poultry.extension.org. Locate and access the 'HOUSING FOR SMALL AND BACKYARD POULTRY FLOCKS' section. Within this section, find and read the article on 'Lighting' to identify recommendations for increasing hen egg production. Return to the 'HOUSING FOR SMALL AND BACKYARD POULTRY FLOCKS' page. Find and read the article on 'Perches' to identify minimum perch space requirements, horizontal spacing, and potential risks. Synthesize the information from both articles to answer the questions.
State that orange-red light (long wavelengths) stimulates reproduction/egg production. State that the minimum perch space is 15 cm (about 6 inches) per hen under regular standards and 18 cm (about 7 inches) per hen under organic standards. State that there must be a minimum of 30 cm (about 12 inches) of horizontal space between perches and 20 cm (about 8 inches) between a perch and the wall. State that perches cannot have sharp edges. Identify potential risks of using perches, such as increased keel injuries due to misjudged landings, skeletal damage (bone fractures, keel deformations), and fat pad lesions.