Question about change of seasons and day length

[sharpchick]

The days are getting shorter, and I live in the southern US, which observes daylight savings time - so the days will get really short when we return to standard time the last weekend of October.

Currently, my birds have a combination of natural, artificial and full spectrum light from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. As the days shorten, should I shorten their daylight hours also? Or would that be disruptive to them?

[The Outlaw]

I would try to follow natural lighting as much as possible. In other words, when its dark at 6, off go the full spectrums, too. Try to follow the rising and setting cylce of the sun and you're birds will do just fine.

[Skyebirdsmom]

First, you have your artificial light on Wayyyyyy too long. Six hrs is enough. And it doesn't matter about day length. I use mine from 8AM to 2 or 3PM, that is plenty. If you use it longer, you stimulate breeding modes and it isn't recommended you do that. Only light companies suggest using them for so long...of course, they want to sell more bulbs or tubes! :o( Birds adjust themselves to the daylight savings time in no time at all. :) My bird is used to going night night at 7 PM, in mid summer it's still sunny out, but he doesn't mind. Once he's covered that's it. :)
Good luck,
Linda & Skye~

[Tiki]

Those FS tubes last forever! We put the FS light on when we go to work and turn it off in the evening so they get about 10 hours a day. I installed the light last November and haven't had to change it yet!