What UV lamp do you use?

Mayden · Mar 13, 2012

Looking into getting one for our budgie's as they're currently in one of the darkest rooms in the house - and I want to move them but then their safety is compromised. So either way, we'll be getting them one now for their health if not just to brighten the room for them

I've been considering getting one for a long time now but never gotten around to it, I always see just the bulbs advertised but I know nothing about which brands are good etcetc.

So guys, which bulb do you use? (Idk, different wattage maybe?) and if so do you put it in an ordinary lamp or a specialized one?

And also, the lambs used for reptiles, is that the same thing?

Probably the only thing I'm completely clueless about ^^

Oh and also, I'm worried about my albino hen and the uv - would it not be too strong for her compared to the others? I don't want her to get hurt

Cliffordsmom · Mar 13, 2012

I never thought about that with my albino budgie.....good question!

roxynoodle · Mar 13, 2012

Good question on the albino hen. The lights are VERY bright. Maybe ask your vet on that one.

After a lot of research with some light manufacturers not giving any information on whether they truly did have UVA and UVB rays in the bulbs, I finally went with florescent FeatherBrite bulbs which I put into clip lights. The florescent bulbs don't give off heat, and only use 20W of power each.

Most of the reviews on the Zoo Med floor lamp said the lamp fell apart in weeks. But, the bulbs they sell don't fit most light fixtures.

Ott lights sound much nicer if you are looking for an actual nice looking lamp for your decor, but I could not find anything to tell me that they actually have UV rays. Many have reported that their birds like them, so maybe they do.

Rio Mom · Mar 13, 2012

I have this for River Featherbrite Captial Universal Cagetop Light - FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING by MY SAFE BIRD STORE For Pepper I bought just one of the bulbs 15W Featherbrite and put it into a clip on desk lamp. The owner of that store told me that if the lamp is being attached directly to the cage to use 15W, and if it's going to be a bit farther away with a fixture angled towards the cage to use 20W

Spiritbird · Mar 13, 2012

I have the same one RM is talking aboutl It is a very good one and easy to use.

roxynoodle · Mar 13, 2012

Hmm, maybe I should have gone with 15W for Merlin and Pete. I did buy the tallest clip lights I could find to get the light at least 12" above the cage, as I thought I had read on their website that you want it 12-24" above the cage. Rowdy's is actually clipped to an antique copper kettle about a foot from her cage.

mnkeastman · Mar 13, 2012

I did the same. I bought a full spectrum 15 w bulb and I got a stainless clip lamp from walmart and have it clipped to the top and on several hours a day so she can get the benefit, I got one with a long bend neck so I could position it about 12 in from the top perch.

I am considering getting something like RM has though, at the time I needed it quickly. I take it off and set it aside when she is out on her playstand or just out roaming (supervised) so she won't be interested in the cord or a hot bulb.

Rio Mom · Mar 13, 2012

For my desk lamp one, to keep the cord away I put a small hook in the wall. The cord goes across, through the hook and straight down the wall. Holds it away from the cage nicely.

roxynoodle · Mar 13, 2012

None of mine can reach it from inside the cage (cord), but I have smaller bar spacing to keep cat from getting into the cages. The only one who has messed with the clip was Pete. The lamp tipped over and landed on the top of his cage, which scared the snot out of him. He hasn't touched it again.

luvmytooo · Mar 13, 2012

I use the ZooMed lamp , and I havent any problems. I just put a hook in the wall so it stable just in case one of the dogs walk by it. My birds love it !
Luckily the bulbs they sell for it fit into one of my light fixtures and it happens to be right under the budgie's cage , they really perked up when I started using it.

I would definitely say that all the birds love the light and would recommend them to everybody. I intend to get the one that sits ontop of the cages since I just assembled Rosie's origional cage which is so huge. The ZooMed light is dwarfed by it now , but it still can do the job.
Poor Yoshi , his cage looks like a toy compared to Rosie's , lolol.

echoskybound · Mar 17, 2012

I actually use a reptile bulb, a Repti Glo 5.0 Tropical bulb. I picked it because it has a high UVA and UVB output, 26 watt, DRI of 98 and a temperature of 6000or something, althought I think that a temperature of 5500k is more appropriate for birds. I have it in a desk lamp about 1.5 feet away from the cage. It definitely makes my bird's feathers more shiny, but I think I might still try out different bulbs in the future just to see what works the best. I have it on a timer and it goes on for about 7 hours a day.

There's also a Repti Glo 2.0 that has lower UV output that might be better for the albino, but I think that's definitely a question for the vet.

roxynoodle · Mar 18, 2012

I thought about the reptile bulbs, but was worried about the heat output. So I tried to find something specifically for avian use.

What UV lamp do you use?

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