Allowing your grey outside..

[Swt Harrigan]

I have a friend who lets his 2 amazons outside on a regular basis and he claims they love it. I am really reserved about letting Harrigan outside due to possible flight, his wings are clipped but he seems to glide well, and the possibility of him catching something. Am I being unreasonable? Do greys benefit from fresh air/being outside? We keep the windows in the house open whenever the weather is decent.

TIA,
Becky and Harrigan

[grandma]

Yes. They benefit from the sun.
It is kind of scary to take our fids ouside.
I never leave mine out alone because of preditors.
Have you tried a teather?
You could also have a cage outside for him.

[bekfreak]

Try the aviator harness it's MUCH better than the teather. I've taken my TAG out for her first time yesterday, and only for a little bit so not to totally overwhelm her not to mention the neighbors were gonna cut the grass so I didn't want to add to any other stress. She enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine though, and it's grey't for them! But make sure you have a harness on your grey. There's too many missing greys as there is.

[Doubleyolk]

Unfiltered sunlight is important for Greys. It promote proper Vitiman D3, calcium and phosphorous absorption.

[corralup]

Originally Posted by bekfreak

Try the aviator harness it's MUCH better than the teather. I've taken my TAG out for her first time yesterday, and only for a little bit so not to totally overwhelm her not to mention the neighbors were gonna cut the grass so I didn't want to add to any other stress. She enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine though, and it's grey't for them! But make sure you have a harness on your grey. There's too many missing greys as there is.

I agree. Once they go up in a tree you can't get to them.

[bb100]

I second the aviator harness plus I pin his feet with my thumb when he's not in his travel cage.. call me paranoid.

[cfulhage]

If you cannot safely take your grey outside, a full spectrum light above his cage is almost a must (which should be provided anyways, because you cant keep your parrot outside for hours a day like what would be needed to really benefit them). UV light is necessary to convert a cholesterol compound to a Vitamin D precursor. The Vitamin D is activated in the liver and kidneys to Vitamin D3 which, like Joe mentioned, is needed for calcium absorption (which grey's in particular have issues with). You can find information about full spectrum lighting by using the search feature on the site.

I also have the aviator harness, which I give 2 thumbs up!

[radiogirl995]

I may get ripped-up for this, but, Camille's post is the first I've read/heard about needing UV lights for my Grey.

Tuki gets indirect sunlight in his cage and we go out for walks on nice days but I don't have this full spectrum lighting you speak of.

What can happen without it???

[cfulhage]

Originally Posted by radiogirl995

What can happen without it???

I can't answer this for sure....Joel???

I don't think there are actually any symptoms from lack of full spectrum lighting, but birds seem to be in overall better health when exposed to it. In some cases it has stopped plucking, plummage is brighter, etc. There have been some studies done with it, just do a search on Google.

Indirect sunlight through a window won't do any good...windows nowadays are made to stop UV light from getting through them.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by radiogirl995

I may get ripped-up for this, but, Camille's post is the first I've read/heard about needing UV lights for my Grey.

Tuki gets indirect sunlight in his cage and we go out for walks on nice days but I don't have this full spectrum lighting you speak of.

What can happen without it???

Like Camille and the others have pointed out, all birds (IMO) - from the research done (if ya believe it & I do) need direct daily sunlight (not thru post 1939 window glass) or if impossible to provide, then "proper" F.S. Lighting should be substituted. Ya can do a search here on the board for info. we have repeatedly discussed in the past on this subject (which a few members besides myself have chosen to believe and have since purchased appropriate lighting - most ignore however or don't want to listen to the facts proven by the research - for whatever reason ).

In short, my suggestion - if ya want to save time doing the reading & research: Purchase a 4 ft. shop-lite with downward reflector powered by an electronic ballast - not a magnetic one. Fixture should have a power cord that ya can simply plug into wall outlet and an off/on switch (I prefer to plug into a cheap timer that ya can purchase at H.D.). IMO, the best tubes to use are two Phillips F32T8TL950 linear fluorescents (can be ordered on-line if ya can't find locally - check with Camille for link if ya like). I would stay away from screw-in type bulbs. Beneficial effects are supposed to last much less time wise in those and the research I have read has said proper F.S. Lighting cannot be "engineered" into them anyway or sumptin' like dat.