lighting

[Jenny]

Who all uses full-spectrum lighting for their birds?

[Amanda]

Hi Jenny, I use a full-spectrum lighting for Bijiou & Rio. Although I'm not sure if they are getting the "full strength" of the lighting because I use the ones from my son's lizard. We change the lizard's full-spectrum lighting every 6 months because they say that the light looses some of its strength after that time. The bulb still works fine so instead of throwing it out, I recycle it by using it on the birds.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Jenny and Amanda:

What are the benefits of full-spectrum lighting for our birds. Please enlighten me.

Thanks.

[Redstorm1721]

I haven't yet but I know I need to. Its pretty dark in all the rooms in my home. We only have windows on one side of my house. Its a 3 family home we live in the first floor appartment.

[Amanda]

Mrs.Birdy, I first heard about using full-spectrum when we got our son a sudan-plated lizard. Aside from the heat lamp that a reptile needs, we were also advised to buy a full-spectrum lighting. I read about it and found out that it is good for birds as well.

From what I've read, full-spectrum lighting simulates "sunshine". The light we have looks just like a regular flourescent light bulb but this is different. A regular flourescent bulb gives light but does not have the UVB and UVA in it. Reptiles and birds need the UVA & UVB. Sunlight helps our body produce vitamin D (and it's the same for animals). I also know that the full-spectrum light helps my son' lizard be more active and stimulate the appetite. I have not seen any remarkable "change" in Bijou or Rio by using the light. I just use the light on them because I already have it from my son's lizard. I'm not sure of the exact benefits of having a full-spectrum lighting for birds but there are tons of literature about it saying that it is definitely good for our pet birds.

Hope this helps, Roseanne.

[Jenny]

Good explanation Amanda! I don't know how necessary it is for birds because I've known quite a few who don't get it yet live to be very old and healthy... I don't use full-spectrum bulbs for my birds, but they do go outside often. I try to take them all out at least once weekly for 30+ mins.

[teri]

jenny

the experts say that your bird needs full spectrum light at least 1 hour a day for proper nutrition of getting the vitamin D, either from taking them in direct sunlight outside or a light bulb, not through a window.

[Mrs.Birdy]

That was going to be my next question. Can a bird get enough sunlight through a sunny window?

Thanks for answering that Teri.

[Amanda]

Mrs.Birdy, if you have a screen on your windows you can let your birds sit on the window sill and they still benefit from the sunlight through the screen. Glass blocks out the UVA & UVB from the sunlight but a screen doesn't. Sometimes when I am doing the dishes, I put Rio on the window (with screen) in the kitchen and she gets her "sun bathing session" while I'm doing dishes. Bijou just flies around and won't sit still on the windowsill ... but she gets the full-spectrum lighting so I'm not too worried if she won't "sunbathe" on the windowsill.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Amanda:

That's a great idea. I'll try it with Snickers...she may sit for a while. I know the Budgies won't....they are so flighty.

Marcel comes out with me in the sunshine every morning for his shower and we stay out on the patio for approx. 30 minutes. He loves sitting on his portable perch stand and enjoys the fresh air and sunshine. Our backyard has mild sun during the morning and it gets very hot in the afternoon.

I will probably consider getting one of these lights for the Winter time when he can't go outside......and I can use it for Snickers and the budgies, too.

[Amanda]

Oh, I forgot to say ... now that I am certain both Bijou & Rio are females, I will definitely make sure they get enough sunlight or full-spectrum lighting because vitamin D helps the body absorb/metabolize calcium. So, both my babies are at high risk for calcium deficiency in case they decide to lay eggs (which Bijou did a couple of weeks ago).

[Mrs.Birdy]

Oh I am glad you mentioned the calcium fact. I am always worried about my Snickers' calcium level because this past Spring she laid 4 eggs.

[Jenny]

Ok, well then my birds really do get more than 30 min. of "real" sunlight a week because my windows are always open! I was thinking only of the special full-spectrum bulbs or the birds actually being outside... All of my birds's cages are by my bedroom windows (screened, of course!), and they love sitting on the windowsills with the windows open.

[Mrs.Birdy]

OMG....I kept Snickers behind the window screen to sunbathe, and she bit a 1/2 inch whole in the screen....(hubby was not pleased at all).

Oh well....bad bad Snickers...now she has to stay behind a closed window, but I will certainly think about getting the full spectrum lighting sooner than expected.

[retret]

I'm planning to put metal halide 10,000 Kelvin lighting, the same lighting that I use for my aquariu, 2 hours a day should be enough for my bird, I also have the timer which I bought from walmart...

[teri]

ha! mrs. birdy, i have holes in my screens too! you just never know what your birdy is going to find interesting to chew on.

[crazeemama]

Please be careful using reptile lighting for your birds. I dont fully understand it, but it is something about the uvb rays and vitamin d synthesis. so research the lighting requirements very thoroughly.
the following has a lot of info on lighting
www.holisticbird.org

[Amanda]

Crazeemama: I asked the pet stores about the reptile lighting for my birds and they said it should be fine. But, I will read more about it on the website you gave. Thanks.

[Redstorm1721]

Some pet stores will say what you want to hear! I would really look into this first! I bring my birds outside in their cage,and also they sit on the back of a chair and look outside. I feel thats plenty of light.

[JSimko]

90% of pet stores will tell you whatever will get the sale. When you finally find one that can be trusted, be loyal.

[Love Bird B]

Mrs. Birdy, sorry to hear about your screen. It's a concern because of the 'screening in porches' thread. It makes me think that cages would be the best way for them to sit on the porch, or by the window.

It sounds like I've become a cage freak! I feel like I'm in a cage myself here at work, except it isn't very pretty.

[Jenny]

Yes, I agree about the pet store thing. Though cages might be better than a screen when your birds are outdoors, predators can also get in through the cage and kill your bird. In one instance an african grey was in a cage in the garage, and an animal still was able to reach in and kill it. I think the best thing is to just be close to your bird and be watching it constantly, wether it's in a cage or not.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Hi Lovebird B...... Do you mean the material screens are made of is dangerous?

Jenny: I have heard of birds being killed by predators getting thru the bars in a cage.

When Marcel is out with us, we keep him close to us with a watchful eye. He still insists on going out on the patio with us, so we sit with him under a huge patio umbrella. So far so good. I haven't seen any vultures or hawks.

[JSimko]

Speaking of predators. Taz and I saw one at the park by our house last summer. We were sitting at a picnic table eating cheeseburgers and we had a whole bag full of them from Wendy's. A gold eagle landed in a tree about 15 yards in front of us. It sat there and watched both of us for about 3 minutes. I think it was attempting to figure out what I would do if it came after Taz. It spread out it's wings and took off toward us. It landed again on the table by the bag of cheeseburgers and picked it up and flew back to the tree with it. It then sat there and shreaded the bag and ate my lunch. I had no idea that eagles were so bold. It may have also decided that Taz was with me of his own free will and that I was not going to harm it, because out of all the people there that day I was the only one that lost my lunch to the eagle.