Method for enhancing poultry production

Abstract

A method is provided for raising poultry, such as chickens, for food production. In a first preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, exposing an interior of the facility to natural light cycles of an outside environment for a first period and regulating light cycles of the interior for a second period, thereby mimicking daylight duration variation representative of seasonal changes for stimulating sexual development of the poultry. In a second preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, limiting exposure of an interior of the facility to light to produce a brown-out effect therein for enhancing physical development of the poultry.

1 . A method of raising poultry comprising the steps of: 
 providing a facility for housing the poultry having an interior; and    providing at least one ventilation fan adapted to restrict the transmission of light into the interior of the facility.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one ventilation fan comprises either a light absorbing coating or a light-absorbing resin.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the light-absorbing coating includes an opaque gel coat.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising producing light cycles to mimic daylight duration variation representative of seasonal changes.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising exposing the interior of the facility to natural light cycles of an outside environment for a period.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising limiting exposure of the interior of the facility to produce a brown-out lighting effect in the interior of the facility.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a climate control device for controlling an environment within the interior.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a shutter mounted to the at least one ventilation fan, the shutter selectively enabling air flow therethrough.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a light trap associated with the at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan for further prohibiting light transmission into the facility.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing at least one selectively coverable opening for selectively enabling passage of light into the interior.  
   
   
       11 . A method of raising poultry for improved food production, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a facility for housing poultry with at least one wall forming an interior, the at least one wall having a ventilation opening from an exterior environment to the interior; and 
 providing a ventilation fan in the ventilation opening, the ventilation fan being adapted to restrict the transmission of light into the interior of the facility through the ventilation opening.  
   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the ventilation fan comprises either a light absorbing coating or a light-absorbing resin.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the light-absorbing coating includes an opaque gel coat.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising producing light cycles to mimic daylight duration variation representative of seasonal changes.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising exposing the interior of the facility to natural light cycles of an outside environment for a period.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising limiting exposure of the interior of the facility to produce a brown-out lighting effect in the interior of the facility.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing a climate control device for controlling an environment within the interior.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing a shutter mounted to the ventilation fan, the shutter selectively enabling air flow therethrough.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing a light trap associated with the ventilation fan for further prohibiting light transmission into the facility.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing at least one selectively coverable opening for selectively enabling passage of light into the interior.