What kind of bird light?

Charliesmom

New member
Apr 4, 2019
27
2
Minnesota
Parrots
Cinnamon green cheek conure
Sunday conure
African grey
Cockatiel
Ciaque
Senegal
Blue crown conure
Hahns macaw
Alexan
Does everyone out there have those uv lights for their birds and if so which ones are the best? For reptiles know the coil type lights are bad for their eyes so don't know if that's the same for birds......
 

munami

New member
Apr 13, 2019
223
4
Ottawa, ON
Parrots
Luna // F // Whiteface Pearl Cockatiel
What you're specifically looking for is Full Spectrum Lighting. I believe any will do but if you're looking a specific brand meant for parrots, I know there's FeatherBrite and ZooMed Avian Sun.

Both also make their own lamps to go with their bulbs. FeatherBrite has one that attaches to a top of a cage too. However, you can just screw it in to any lamp. I have mine screwed into a $20 IKEA lamp.
 

bug_n_flock

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
A lot people here do not advise artificial UV lighting. They advise full spectrum as Luna's mum pointed out. Myself, I am a strong believer in getting birds out into natural sunlight. Of course, this should be done safely with a harness or while the bird is safely secured in a travel cage. They do not need to bask like a reptile does, though, so make sure to not have your bird cooking in direct sunlight or anything like that. :)
 

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
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State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
NONE...You don't need nor want to put ANY type of artificial lighting over a parrot. Period. There are a multitude of reasons why not, everything from they don't need it if they are being fed a healthy, varied, low-fat, high-protein diet, to the fact that somewhere around 95% of the lights that are sold for pet birds/parrots are not only inadequate and do nothing at all to help them, but actually often hurt them, causing Eye damage and Photoconjunctivitis, Blindness, Skin burns/damage, Skin Cancers (Squamous Cell and Melanoma), etc. (as well as many sold for Reptiles who DO NEED an artifical UVB light)...Unless you know a lot about UVB light strengths, intensitys, and especially types and types of fixtures, then don't risk it...And don't waste your money, it's totally unnecessary and chances are you will only regret it in the end. And this goes for all UVB lights, "Full-Spectrum" lights (that's a misnomer), etc.

There is nothing better for any and all pets and people than some NATURAL Fresh-Air and Sunshine, at least once in a while. Since UVB light from the Sun cannot at all penetrate any type of clear-plastic or glass (100% of UVB is blocked by all windows), nor penetrate any types of mesh windows/window-screens either (unless the holes in the screen are HUGE), that means putting your bird inside of a window in your home or on a Sun-Porch that is closed-in by mesh, clear-plastic, etc., that means that if you are concerned about getting your bird some Fresh Air and Sunshine, that's exactly what you should do...Either inside of a cage, a carrier, or on an Aviator Harness, take them outside (supervised) whenever you can for an hour or two. I take my guys all out on their Aviator Harnesses, and sometimes when I have one out on their Aviator Harness I'll put the others inside of a huge Flight-Cage I have in my garage, and push it out into the yard/driveway, and I'll sit there with them for an hour or two and let them just play in the sun (making sure they can get into a bit of shade if they want to, and that they always have water, and I never walk away and leave them unsupervised, so do it during times when you are totally free and don't have other committments)...That's the best, safest way to get your bird some Sun...Artificial UVB and Full-Spectrum bird-lights are just asking for serious issues for your bird's health with no benefits at all in-return...
 

munami

New member
Apr 13, 2019
223
4
Ottawa, ON
Parrots
Luna // F // Whiteface Pearl Cockatiel
@EllenD
Hey Ellen! Thanks for this information. I had no idea.
Do you have an sources? I'd like to look more into this. My vet recommended it. She's not a CAV, she's an exotic that works with a CAV so I do take her suggestions with a little grain of salt. However, I don't want to jump the gun just yet.


I live in Canada, often times it's very cold in the winters with not many hours of sunlight.
 
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Charliesmom

New member
Apr 4, 2019
27
2
Minnesota
Parrots
Cinnamon green cheek conure
Sunday conure
African grey
Cockatiel
Ciaque
Senegal
Blue crown conure
Hahns macaw
Alexan
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Yes, that's why I was wondering about a lot also was more for winter..... living in minnesota they are not going out most of the year. But I know with reptiles there are certain lights that will harm their eyes (I have tortoises so im very familiar with their lighting). I know birds should only have a light on for a little bit, not like reptiles do all day. I was just wondering what to do for 9 or so months of cold weather here. So they will be fine not getting light for most of the year? If so won't waste my money.
 
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Charliesmom

New member
Apr 4, 2019
27
2
Minnesota
Parrots
Cinnamon green cheek conure
Sunday conure
African grey
Cockatiel
Ciaque
Senegal
Blue crown conure
Hahns macaw
Alexan
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Thanks for all the responses. I know nothing about these " extra" type things
 

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