Impact of window design on the lighting environment of GAP-certified naturally illuminated broiler houses

Authors: ETHERTON, J - Auburn University; LINHOSS, J - Auburn University; DAVIS, J - Auburn University; Purswell, Joseph; STARKEY, J - Auburn University

Submitted to: PLOS ONE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2025
Publication Date: 6/4/2025
Citation: Etherton, J., Linhoss, J.E., Davis, J.D., Purswell, J.L., Starkey, J.D. 2025. Impact of window design on the lighting environment of GAP-certified naturally illuminated broiler houses. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325420.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325420

Interpretive Summary: Light is a crucial factor in the successful management of broilers, influencing both the physiological and behavioral aspects of broilers in a commercial poultry house. Recent changes in consumers’ desire for alternative rearing programs have prompted integrators to adopt varying lighting strategies, including provision of natural light via windows. Light intensities were measured in two commercial broiler houses with different window configurations using a high-density data collection system. The information generated from this study will help broiler companies understand the impact of windows on the lighting environment and will also help to inform future housing design considerations.

Technical Abstract: Light is a crucial factor in the successful management of broilers, influencing both the physiological and behavioral aspects of broilers in a commercial poultry house. Recent changes in consumers’ desire for alternative rearing programs have prompted integrators to adopt varying lighting strategies, including provision of natural light via windows. The objectives of this study were to compare light intensity, spatial distribution, and uniformity in two 18.2 × 182.9 m commercial broiler houses with different window configurations during brooding and tunnel conditions. The one-sided window treatment (1SW) had 23 translucent windows (1.42 × 1.09 m) that were all located on the north wall. The two-sided window (2SW) treatment had 58 translucent windows (0.95 × 0.60 m) located on both the north and south sidewalls and two additional windows of the same size on the west end wall (brooding end). Data acquisition systems were constructed to collect light intensity at 750 locations per replicate in both houses. Two replicates were collected for tunnel and brooding conditions in each house at solar noon ± 2 h. Three house sections (fan, mid, and pad) were statistically compared as well as whole house data for both tunnel and brood conditions. Average light intensity was assessed in 1SW and 2SW treatments during tunnel and brood condition using a one-way ANOVA via a mixed model procedure in SAS. The GSTAT package in R was used to spatially map light intensities. For tunnel conditions, light intensities in the 2SW treatment were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the whole house and pad and mid sections than the 1SW treatment. Mean light intensity values were 1.8 times and 6.5 times higher in the mid and pad sections, respectively, in the 2SW treatment. Light intensities for the brood conditions were not statistically different between treatments. Spatial uniformity was lower in the 1SW treatment, as indicated by higher CVs in the whole house, fan, and mid sections. This study showed that differences in window size and placement influences light intensity and spatial uniformity in commercial broiler houses.