Chickens are incredibly photosensitive, and their overall growth and wellbeing is dependent on the proper amount of light provided at the right times. That’s what makes a quality poultry barn dimmer such an important tool.
Look for these three features when shopping for a quality dimmer:
- Increasing and decreasing intensity - Find a dimmer that gives consistent control from the high to low end of the spectrum. Some dimmers may cause the lights not to come up at all until the dimmer reaches 10 percent and is at full brightness around 60 percent.
- Minimize flicker and flash - Chickens have outstanding eyesight, and flicker can agitate them leading to pecking and other aggression. Some dimmers are designed to minimize flicker by skipping over the voltages that cause the flashes.
- Bulb versatility - Select a dimmer that offers you flexibility among the bulbs you select, so that if you find yourself with a low-quality bulb, it won’t have a significant impact on your production.
PRO TIP
Think of lighting in foot candles, not percentages. No matter what dimmer you choose, test your lighting to make sure you’re actually hitting the lighting level you’re aiming for.
Chart Source: https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/poultryventilation/documents/Nwsltr-68LightDimmingIssues.pdf
Cumberland’s premier dimmer, Versillum, does all this and integrates nicely with smart controllers, such as the EDGE controller.
