Let's talk winter

[MissV]

No, seriously, LET'S.


So, it's quickly become cold, the sun is coming out less, and the hawks are coming down from the mountains to mock my pain at not being able to take the fids outside much anymore.


So, I've been looking into ways to make up for all this lack-of-natural-things.

Obviously UV type lighting is a necessity, but does anyone have any suggestions as to WHAT type? I've seen ones that stand on the floor, onces that hook to the cage, ones that are attached somehow to cage-like bars and clip to the cage, etc etc.

I don't think hanging ones is an option for me because I'm renting and don't want to have to spackle my roof.

Sooo, suggestions? Options? Opinions? Spam? (please no spam)



The other issue is heat. I've seen heated perches, heating lamps, and heating pads...particularly these Temperature Control: T-Rex Cobra Heat Mats at Drs. Foster and Smith which can be mounted on a wall to reflect heat in too.

But of course, that's for reptiles.



Sooo, opinions on that too? Are heated perches really worth the money? I suppose I could put it on a timer to make sure they don't get TOO much heat...just like I would the uv bulbs....hrmmm.

[Lex123]

WHAT!? I need to get a UV bulb? I did NOT know this! Is it just a reptile UV bulb?

[LovelySydney]

Noooo I dont want to talk about winter yet.




Its cold enough already

[MissV]

Lex - UV light is supah important to parrots, who see in that spectrum as well as the ones we see...technically, without being outside/having UV light, they're a bit color bind for parrots!

But more importantly, they need both UVA and UVB for some essential vitamins. They aren't sick without it...but just like we do, they need to be exposed to it to be at optimum health. The reptile ones are basicallly the same as long as they're BOTH UVA and UVB....but I'm looking for methods and types and suggestions and DEALS would be great!



LovelySydney - QUITTER! Get in the game or go home! *flail*

(note: My sister's wedding in the beginning of December so I'd like to worry about winter now before I'm running around like a chicken with my head cutoff (HARHARrealappropriate,'Riika...) trying to prepare for a wedding AND Christmas!)

[Lex123]

Well, KeeWee is in a temperature controlled sunroom. Does he still need UV lighting? Plus, why haven't I heard about using artifical lighting for parrots?

[NotEnoughTime]

I have never worried about additional UV lighting and have never seen an issue in the birds that I've owned... Winter is a more "fun" time for us - my birds have been allowed to grow-out their primaries and fly throughout the house... Then we all settle down in the evenings to watch a movie together... UV lighting? Hmmm...

A bird on a well balanced diet (including pellets) gets enough Vitamin D...

[MissV]

It's not just about Vitamin D

Bird Health Depends on Light - Natural or UV Full Spectrum Lighting

That's a decent article...and you really only need to google the subject to find tons of sites talking about artificial light for birds.

Lex - I've no clue why you haven't heard anything about it before....it's pretty commonly talked about.


For my own reasons, I dont feel like enough sunlight is getting into my room anyway, so the argument as to sun through a window being good enough is pretty moot for my situation. -.-


Ummm...but to each his own. No, I haven't had any problems in the years NOT providing it, but I'm always looking for ways to make my fids even happier and healthier than ever before.


All I know is I HATE going without sunlight, so I figure they can't enjoy it that much either.

[chapala]

I have read several times that the claims made for UV lights providing vitamin D are not correct, and that most if not all the full spectrum UV lights will not allow your bird to make sufficient vitamin D3. However, it is very good for birds to have excellent lighting in the home, more for their vision and general well-being.

[girly]

I'm lucky - I live on the top floor with a skylight in the room Jezebel's in, with plenty of light all day long from all my windows!

[MissV]

Well, I know that many of them don't have UVB--they only have UVA, and that's the main problem. UVB is what gives us the vitamin D.

But yeah...I'm not so much concerned abotut the vitamin d but about providing clean energizing light while I'm not there and they're not able to run around like made.



Do UV lights produce much heat? I wondered if I couldn't just replace my normal crappy lights with a couple of UV ones....but I wouldn't want them to heat the room like those daggom "energy saving" ones do...