Do They Really Need Full Specturm Light Or Will A Proper Diet Due Fine

[moemoe3]

I WAS RESEARCHING full spectrum light for my finches and i came across this page Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Bird Lighting Hotspots - Pet Birds

and it said this (there more you can read )

Many people are stuck in a rut when it comes to thinking about lighting for their birds. They think that the main purpose of full spectrum lighting is to provide their birds with a source of Vitamin D. Some people think that Vitamin D is part of the rays in sunshine. Therefore, common wisdom has said that given a few hours a day of full spectrum light, birds will be healthful and happy. The truth of this matter is simple: birds require a regular photoperiod for health, and receive all of the Vitamin D they require from balanced dietary sources. The rest is a myth.

so i did more research to find out where vitD2 (calciferol), and vita D3 (cholecalciferol) comes from and i found this


Lady Gouldian Finch .com - Vitamin D in Cage Bird Nutrition
Vitamin D2 occurs mainly in plant sources in nature
Vitamin D3 is found only in animal products such as eggs, milk, insects, and liver.

and i found this

DIETS FOR FINCHES AND SOFTBILLS SIMPLE OR COMPLICATED? - Robert G. Black

Nutrients are widespread in foods, and any mix of both plant and animal products can provide a complete diet for your birds. By plant products, I mean anything from a plant source, such as seeds, seed meals, greens, and vegetables. By animal products, I mean anything that comes from the animal kingdom, including, meat, fish, eggs, milk, insects and worms. Animal sources are nearly all good sources of complete protein – the only exception I have found is gelatin, which is an animal product, but because of its processing is not complete protein.

so now i wondering is a spectrum light necessary or do i need to investing in some insects food and cod liver oil
since i have no where to put the light right now i will work on improving the diet of my zebra finches and see what happens

what is your thoughts on this matter and the articles? what do you practice and how is it working ?

[huntress]

You can always supplement and provide things with food but natural is best. Your birds will live fine and have for centuries without Uv lighting BUT the way our bodies assimilate nutrients with the aid of natural sunlight can never be duplicated no matter what you do. We all need natural sunlight just as much as we need darkness. Anything that will tell you we (us AND other animals) can survive without natural sunlight ever just by diet alone is nonsense. It also aids in our mental state. Birds were designed for the outdoors. I have a small 18 inch light fixture that mounts flat like for under the counter? It cost 8 dolllars at walmart and the bulb was just over 8 dollars. I lay them right on top of the cage. Inexpensive, hardly can even see it there till I turn it on, makes the birds look stunning (the colors really come out). Then I plugged it into a very inexpensive timer.

[SDavid]

I'm one of those people who's "stuck in a rut" as they put it.

I think the fact that most of us are bird keepers and not scientists means we have to rely on what we read. That creates a problem. One, companies that make and sell bulbs have an agenda-that's to make money. They want to convince you you need their product. Read one of their ads....it's a compleat contradiction to this for instance:

"The truth of this matter is simple: birds require a regular photoperiod for health, and receive all of the Vitamin D they require from balanced dietary sources. The rest is a myth."


Personally, I have too many unanswered questions regarding true full spectrum bulbs. Such as: "if I'm not supposed to stare into the bulb why is it ok for my bird to do so?" Or "if the bulb is supposed to be 12 inches away from the bird (impossible when my birds are out) does the bulb still do it's job?"

Anyway. I'm generally skeptical of anything "new" and I don't just jump into trends that may proove to be harmfull later on.

I spend some time outdoors with my fids every day during the summer. Since it's winter now I did recently buy ZooMed's Bird Bulb. I use it once or twice a week for maybe two hours because my birds are in the living room all winter. But, again, I couldn't tell you how it's working or if it's making a difference at all. I personally know long time bird keepers who've never used them and their birds are perfectly happy. My birds are on balanced diet as I regulate how often I offer individual food items.

Word of mouth seems to be that the Sun is the best.

[jylu97]

I agree with what others have discussed, however, you'll find the "experts" on full spectrum lighting are those with reptiles. Their reptiles must have UVB. I somewhat doubt the efficacy of the compact FS bulbs. The best from what I've read are the tubes and not all brands are created equal. Any bulb also needs to be replaced every six months. I've just resorted to natural lighting (remember most glass filters out UV) instead of fussing with lighting. I think I do see more activity and a happier parrot, but she did fine indoors for 20 yrs.

Liz

[Matt]

From what I have read, this is the way I understood it works. Although the vitamin is provided in the food, it can not be utilized efficiently in that form. Through sunlight, the bird take the vitamin and its body changes it to another vitamin. I wish I could quote you the exact way it works but my memory fails me.

Another aspect to consider is that birds normally get sunlight in the wild so if they bird can get natural light, I am sure that is a good thing. If people who have birds with behavioral or health issues, I would seriously consider artificial lighting for sure. I will install a light recommended by a user here, Joel. Here is what he uses:

4ft. long fluorescent fixture (shop-lite type) with an electronic ballast (do not use a magnetic ballast). We burn 2 Philips F32T8TL950 tubes in this fixture (these are considered the best available by some of us).

By eliminating UV light, you actually take part of the birds natural color spectrum away. We only see red, green and blue but birds see UV. For example, female budgies actually choose mates partially based on their bright markings which are illuminated by UV light. I would think breeders could see increased activity with breeding pairs often by utilizing UV light. This is my opinion as I am not very experienced in the subject. I think Parrots of Oz talks about this.

[huntress]

The normal uropygial gland produces vitamin D3 precursors that are preened onto the feathers. Upon exposure to ultraviolet light (particularly UVB), the precursors will be converted to active D3, which will then be ingested when the bird preens again.
For activation of the uropygial gland secretion, a bird needs exposure to natural, unfiltered sunlight (not through glass or plastic) or exposure to a full-spectrum fluorescent light (changed regularly as recommended by the manufacturer and placed within 18 inches of the cage). While formulated diets should contain adequate amounts of vitamin D3, any birds, especially greys, with calcium problems should always have the uropygial gland evaluated, and it should be recommended that they receive some sunlight or full-spectrum artificial lighting. Some species of psittacines do not possess an uropygial gland (including Amazon parrots, hyacinth macaws) and emus, ostriches, cassowaries, bustards, frogmouths, many pigeons and woodpeckers do not possess one, either.
t has been observed that African Greys living outdoors (and exposed to natural sunlight) rarely suffer from seizures, so it seems clear that the interrelation between the uropygial gland, ultraviolet light and vitamin D3 are responsible for normal calcium homeostasis in the African Grey parrots, and most likely in other African species.

I had this stuff for you to look at. Its the most natural and effective way for birds to assimilate the calcium levels they need. Feed -thru supplimentation helps but you have no way of knowing if your bird is actually getting all they need. If there digestive sytem can even handle that means of intake. They were designed to create this absoption thru the preen gland AND natural sunlight so that would tell me its the BEST for them. Its no myth that the preen oils contain the necc. precursors for turning the Vitamins into the system. It is proven. Our bodies do not digest everything we put into our mouths, matter of fact unless your taking a liquid vitamin you are in fact Passing most of the vitamins pill you may take. Same can happen with our fids and unatural supplimentation.

[Matt]

Thanks Huntress, exactly what I had forgottten.

[chucky]

Woooohoooo Huntress just powned you allll!!!!hahahahahh GREAT WORK!!!!The facts are all there.I wish i had the balls to take my GCC outside but im still VERY upset my 5 yr old. budgie flew away 3 days ago though so im afraid to take him out currently...

[Monica]

Sunlight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Life on Earth
The existence of nearly all life on Earth is fueled by light from the sun. ---
Heterotrophs, such as animals, use light from the sun indirectly by consuming the products of autotrophs, either directly or by consuming other heterotrophs. The sugars and other molecular components produced by the autotrophs are then broken down, releasing stored solar energy, and giving the heterotroph the energy required for survival. This process is known as respiration.

Effects on health
A lack of sunlight, on the other hand, is considered one of the primary causes of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a serious form of the "winter blues". SAD occurrence is more prevalent in locations further from the tropics, and most of the treatments (other than prescription drugs) involve replicating sunlight via sunlamps tuned to specific wavelengths of light or full-spectrum bulbs.

Full-spectrum light - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Full-spectrum" is not a technical term when applied to an electrical light bulb but rather a marketing term implying that the product emulates natural light.
Products marketed as "full-spectrum" may produce light throughout the entire spectrum, but actually do not produce an even spectral distribution, and may not even differ substantially from lights not marketed as "full-spectrum".

Measurement
Color temperature and Color Rendering Index (CRI) are the standards for measuring light. In general, Kelvin temperature ratings of 5000 K or higher and CRI of 90 or higher denote a truer, full-spectrum light.

Use in seasonal affective disorder
In recent years, full-spectrum lighting has been used in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) through the use of "light boxes" that mimic natural sunlight, which may not be available in some areas during the winter months. Light is an environmental stimulus for regulating circadian cycles.

Lightbox therapy, otherwise known as phototherapy, is a recognized modality for depression (such as SAD). Depending on the quality of the light, it is estimated that 10,000 lux is needed for effective treatment. Not all light boxes are the same. It is possible the phosphors used to mimic the natural light emit harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Artificial sunlight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Light therapy
Artificial sunlight is found useful in treating and preventing Seasonal affective disorder (also known as winter depression, which brings about depressive symptoms specifically in winter), and Delayed sleep phase syndrome, in which the circadian (day V/s night)-rhythm is disturbed, and the individual tends to fall asleep at the same time much after midnight.

Artificial sunlight may also be useful in prevention, or minimizing the severity of jet lag. Although, UV light is used in treatment of psoriasis and eczema (as PUVA therapy), and in treatment of acne, (in which case it is also accompanied by application of red light), it is not the entire spectrum of visible light that is employed.





There's also the fact that people have noticed more active birds when using full spectrum lighting... so I do believe that natural or artificial sunlight is beneficial to birds in some way!

[Koki]

The 'full-spectrem' provided by any bulb, though it has numerous benefits, has not been shown to have any positive effect on vitimin D3 synthesis. My CertAvian Vet told me, and I have yet to read any research that says it does. Everything I read that says it does is based on a light bulb salesmans website.

UVB outdoors certainly does turn precursors into D3, but what you have in the bulbs is completely inadequate. It's like trying to start a car with a thimble full of gasoline. Yes, it's the right stuff, but there just ain't enough of it.

I do use, and recomend, full-spectrum bulbs. They have numerous benefits, but vitimin D3 synthesis is not among them.

If your bird eats a formulated (extruded) diet, it should get all the D3 it needs. D3 is found in almost no foods in a usable form, other than egg yolk, fish oils, and some seaweeds.

If you feed a seed-based diet, add a chopped up boiled egg once or twice a week and that should be sufficient. Yes, natrual is better. The incredible edible egg! It's got everything you need to make a bird:)