The Influence of Light Color on Behavioral Patterns and Productive Traits in Quail

The study sought to explore how various colors of illumination affect the behavior and productivity of Japanese quails. A total of 192 one-day old Japanese quail chicks were divided into four groups, with three replicates. The birds in control group were subjected to white light, while the other groups were exposed to blue, red, and green lights. The experiment lasted for 7 weeks. The quail’s behaviors were recorded by utilizing a scanning technique. Furthermore, growth performance, egg quality, hatching performance and carcass traits were assessed. Illumination colors had a significantly influence (P < 0.05) in most of the Japanese quails ‘behaviors. ingestive, running, flying and crouching were significantly higher under blue light. While, walking and exploratory behaviors were significantly higher in red color. The comfort behavior was increased under green color. Different light color had no an obvious impact on the final body weight, but it was the highest in quail kept in blue and green light color. In the same line, daily weight gain, feed conversion rate, egg fertility and hatchability percent were significantly improved under blue light. Birds that received red light had higher egg weight, egg-shell thickness, shell weight, yolk index and albumen height, than other treatments (p < 0.05). Dressing weight and Dressing percentage were improved in birds that received green light than other colors lights (p < 0.05). Consequently, using blue and green lighting programs in raising Japanese quails is believed to offer good welfare and production benefits.