yet another lighting question...

[cfulhage]

Does anyone know off the top of their head the distance Ollie's new full spectrum light should be above the cage? I got the fixture from Joel, it is of the shop light variety with tube lights, CRI 98. I have PMed him, but I'd like to head to Ace within the hour to get hanging chains. I did a search for full spectrum lighting, but there are 89 threads, and after going through the first page and not finding the answer...I thought this might be quicker!

Ollie's favorite perch that she is on 75% of her in-cage time is right near the top of the cage. Not sure if that matters...

Thanks guys!!!

[Tiki]

Camille, I have the same fixture. I had to special order the FS tubes from Bunnings (our answer to Lowes or Home Depot). The staff there had fixtures and I attached it straight to the wall in the bird room. If you just take the fixture in, the staff can make sure you get the right sort of chains you are looking for.

[cfulhage]

You attached it to the wall, or the ceiling? I think I know what I need to attach it to the ceiling, I just need to know how long the chains need to be.
The fixture Joel sent me came with chains and hooks, they just aren't long enough. I just read in an article that the light needs to be no more than 10" from the top of the cage. This could pose a problem with Ollie playing on the cage top...

[Tiki]

I attached it to the cornice where the wall and ceiling meet. I am amazed how long they last, I have had mine up for a year now without changing the tube and I leave it on roughly 12 hours a day. My tiels are free flying in an indoor aviary but I have noticed that they love to hang out in the corner nearest the FS light.

I put up a post last year, you may find it amusing:

http://www.birdboard.com/forum/thread2357.html

[Mr Five]

One thing that a lot of people do not know is that the FS bulbs lose about 40% of the effect over a 6 months of use. They should be changed every 6 months.

Working in a vets office the FS lighting that we use is hung from the ceiling. There are a least 4 tubes in every room for the boarded birds. I believe that as long as they are getting the light that it is of some help.

So to conclude if it were me I would install the lighting with the chain that you have. I know that when raising finches or smaller birds that some breeders place the lights on top of the cages. This is both for the light and the heat.

Just my 2¢
Mr. Five