The Outlaw FS Light Fixture

[The Outlaw]

I made up two light fixtures to put over cages for my parrots. I have two former pluckers, a grey and an ekkie, who I feel need the extra benefit of of FS lighting. I wanted to be sure that the light was very close to the birds, not too hot and that the wiring was protected from busy beaks. I have a painted mural behind these cages and wanted the lights to "blend in" with the mural, so I also painted mine, but others may simply choose not to. In any event, I have instructions and photos for anyone interested. Here's a shot of the finished painted one over my Cleo's cage. She LOVES her light.
I don't permit my birds to climb on top of cages. I have lots of playgyms for out time, so if you decide to let your birds play on cage tops, this will probably work better if hung from the ceiling on a chain. I won't hang anything from my ceiling in the livingroom.

THE OUTLAW

[jessicaboyer89]

Wow! What a cool set up! I love the mural...very beautiful!

[The Outlaw]

Jodi


That's what I'm gonna do in the bird room. I'll hang one of the fixtures Joel recommended. This is a solution for folks with one or two birds that don't want to involve installing things on walls or ceilings.

THE OUTLAW

[TooLover]

Nancy,
I love the way you painted it! I have tomorrow off and this is going to be my project. Elwoodblue is in the living room and though he spends a lot of time on the porch, it is getting chilly here so he will need extra light as the porch will be off-limits.
Thanks for sharing!

[Laika]

Great! Very creative! It looks relly nice! Kukito is jealous now...

Syrlena, Baby Simba the bird friendly cat and Kukito the noisy one

[AsianPuppies]

I love the mural! What lovely work and how very visually appealing as a backdrop to the cages. Did you paint the mural yourself, too?

A/P

[The Outlaw]

Sure did. I did it in about 4 hours. Then we covered the walls in plexiglass. It was the SMARTEST thing I've ever done when it comes to keeping things clean and safe. Thanks for the compliment.

THE OUTLAW

[Joel]

Yeah, what a very cool setup Nancy, love everything ya do as always. Wish I could hire ya to do my walls in murals and plexiglass. Ya don't get much snow where you are at do ya? If so you may consider a free stay over my place with meals, local transportation and entertainment (next winter maybe) in exchange for some deco type assistance?

Of course ya can bring Will!!!!!!

Ya know I got to make a comment or two about the light. .....I was just going to repeat that I had read and heard that screw in types lose any beneficial properties they might have very quickly after a few months at most. I'll try to check more into that though. Also does that bulb have a CRI rating of 92 or above out of curiosity. A couple more things but I can't remember clearly at the moment, I need to go back and check my notes regarding screw in fluorescent type bulbs, will get back another day on that.

Looks beautiful though, OF COURSE. You da Woman!!!!!!!!!!! If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I definitely want to come back as a B&G or etc. in your home!!!!!!!!! Great eats there too, still looking forward to one of your home made peach ice-cream cones in the future maybe when I may be passing thru on an indirect return trip from St. Johns or somewhere like that. :)

[The Outlaw]

Joel:

The problem with these bulbs is that they lose "power" quickly. I'll have to replace them every 4 months if I burn them 8 hours a day. However, I probably won't be burning them that often, for my birds are in the playroom for most of the day and I have other light fixtures out there that are what you recommend.

This was to give my known ex-pluckers a foot up and to effectively light the darker corners of a room efficiently.

I do really like the Featherlite bulbs. They come in 15 and 20 watt and give off a LOT of light. I have a 20 watt in the overhead light in the birdroom and it looks like sunup all day long. They are good for a year.

When you are lighting such big cages as I have to, primarily for the big macaws, its difficult to do it efficiently with any one fixture. Besides, this is an experiment. I'm trying to compare the different types and do my own research. I re-read the info you provided and did some other research as well. I am directly lighting Mia, my plucked BG and the grey and ekkie who did pluck a few months ago. All other birds will remain in the same lighting they had before. Mia is on and interior wall and gets less light than the other macaws who all have cages directly in front of windows. These are very old windows (1936) that don't have the UV filters and I've removed screens. I think that's why the birds in there have always done so well.

Besides, the grey cage and the Ekkie cages are relatively small by comparison. Hey, I KNOW I read somewhere that UV lighting is supposed to be at eye level, but I cannot find the information anywhere. If you should stumble upon it, PLEASE let me know where. It's driving me crazy!!!!

THE OUTLAW

p.s. I don't mind the snow. I don't ever have to shovel it and it gives me the opportunity to bake lots of goodies. I like to make bread on cold winter mornings. I'm afraid my trips to FLA are all about taking Miss Lily to Disneyworld or visiting relatives in the Keys. I wish I could come see your setup, but its not too likely, I'm afraid. Will has to pry me away from my birds. I don't do seperations from them very well. Thanks for the offer, though. You just never know

[Joel]

Thanks for the clarification for me Nancy. I appreciate your time in that response.