Sources of Artificial Light for Turkey Breeding Females

THE use of artificial light in obtaining early turkey hatching eggs has become a common practice among producers. Milby and Thompson (1942) reviewed the literature and reported the effect of morning lights and all night lights on Bronze turkey hens. Scott and Payne (1937), investigating the effect of various kinds of light in stimulating egg production in Bronze turkeys, found that white and red lights were effective while blue light was not. No other experimental work to determine the value of light from different sources has been reported. Turkey growers who do not have electricity have asked whether or not they could use other sources of light. EXPERIMENT I To answer the above question an experiment was set up in the fall of 1942. Six identical houses, 12×16 ft., were equipped with the following light sources: pen 11, gasoline lantern (mantle type); pen 12, kerosene lantern (wick); pen 13, natural . . .