Is that a good setup?

[Breeder]

Is that a good setup? I put the pair seperately into a double divided cage. I put a fluorescent light (UVB-UVA) on the back and i put a metal piece on the back of the cage so there is some space so the light can't reach the canaries, so they can choose when they want to be exposed. Is that a good idea? Any other ideas?

[DVBourassa]

I would recommend some natural perches that vary in diameter. They're better for the feet than the plastic ones.

[Peanutbutter]

I know very little about lighting, but I don't like the light on the side....

Turn a bare lamp sideways at your face for the day --- see if YOU like it --kinda thing.

Seems it would always be in their faces. And yes, a couple different type/texture perches would be wonderful.

Very cool cage.

[Breeder]

So, what you recommend to do?

[Peanutbutter]

I'd want to put the light on top of the cage. Just my opinion though, and like I said before I don't know all that much about lighting.

I was thinking about it, and aren't they supposed to be off most of the day? If thats the case, then its probably fine.

[Breeder]

Here:

Breeding Canaries!

[Peanutbutter]

Thanks for the link, I'm shocked that they need 9-15hrs a day of direct sunlight!

Hope someone more knowledgeable helps out soon. Wish I had more to offer than an opinion.

[chapala]

If you have the birds in a basement with no natural light, you would have to provide more. For Vit. D3 production in parrots at least, 20 minutes to 1/2 hour of sunlight is sufficient for them to absorb enough sunlight to make D3, and fat soluble vitamins such as D3 are stored in the liver. More sunlight is better, and is what species in the wild have. As far as regulating natural cycles of breeding, etc., I would think that light through a window would be fine too (not for D3 though).