SPRING SUMMER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

Increase lighting with 30 minutes weekly until reaching 16 hours of total lighting. Pullets placed from 1 March stand the best chance to benefit from the changing natural day length and can be easily supplemented with artificial lighting to reach the desired total photoperiod. Winter-hatched pullets face the challenge of rearing during the shortest days, but reaching maturity as days lengthen significantly. This requires careful management to prevent natural spring day length from stimulating early maturity. It is recommended that winter rearing be undertaken in dark houses that are light-tight to control lighting. However, should there be a need to rear during this period, it is important to consider the following management strategies. Management strategy for winter to spring rearing in open-sided houses • Maintain artificial lighting at constant duration (10-11 hours) from week 8 through week 16, regardless of increasing natural day length • Use black shades or curtains to block early morning and late evening natural light • Begin artificial stimulation at 17-18 weeks Weeks of age Date Sunrise Lights on Lights off Sunset Total hours of light Total sunlight 0:00 0 1-Mar 5:57 0:45 22:45 18:31 22:00 12:34 1 8-Mar 6:00 1:45 22:00 18:24 20:15 12:24 2 15-Mar 6:03 2:30 21:15 18:18 18:45 12:15 3 22-Mar 6:06 3:15 20:30 18:11 17:15 12:05 4 29-Mar 6:09 4:00 19:45 18:04 15:45 11:55 5 5-Apr 6:12 4:45 19:15 17:57 14:30 11:45 6 12-Apr 6:14 5:30 18:45 17:50 13:15 11:36 7 19-Apr 6:17 5:45 17:45 17:44 12:00 11:27 8 26-Apr 6:20 5:45 17:45 17:39 12:00 11:19 9 3-May 6:23 5:45 17:45 17:34 12:00 11:11 10 10-May 6:27 5:45 17:45 17:29 12:00 11:02 11 17-May 6:30 5:45 17:45 17:26 12:00 10:56 12 24-May 6:33 5:45 17:45 17:24 12:00 10:51 13 31-May 6:36 5:45 17:45 17:22 12:00 10:46 14 7-Jun 6:39 5:45 17:45 17:22 12:00 10:43 15 14-Jun 6:42 5:45 17:45 17:22 12:00 10:40 16 21-Jun 6:44 5:15 18:15 17:23 13:00 10:39 17 28-Jun 6:45 5:00 18:30 17:25 13:30 10:40 18 5-Jul 6:45 4:45 18:45 17:28 14:00 10:43 Table 1: Lighting programme for open rearing houses for South Africa (Hyline lighting programme) The table shows the recommended programme generated from the Hyline lighting programme for open rearing to open lay houses. Spring/Summer 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 72