heating lamp and UVB Bulbs?

Hi All! I am the proud first time parrot owner of a 4 month old pacific Parrotlet and he always seems to be a little cold in my house. He shivers very easily even when the house is 76* F. I have taken him to the vet twice in the last two weeks I have had him, first time for his first check up and second time because I was scared he was shaking due to being sick, both being with avian certified vets. They both did soil samples to test for bacteria and everything checked out okay and they both said he seemed great and healthy, weight was 26grams both visits so no changes. So I am thinking I might need to add a heating lamp for him and was wondering what are the best options, as well as what everyone's thoughts are on UVB bulbs for during the day, and if positive what brand is best?

I use space heaters, the small electric ones. I have a few and I contacted the companies, (I no longer had the boxes) to make sure they were bird safe. I had the heaters prior to getting Levi. I was lucky none of them had teflon or anything that would be harmful.

This link was posted in recent thread about heaters.
https://birdtricksstore.com/blogs/birdtricks-blog/bird-safe-heaters

I hope this helps.

Your Parrot should be very comfortable at your home's temperature.

- With a day time temperature of 76 degrees F, in Florida, during late Summer, it is likely the location of your AC unit (or vents) that are pushing a cool draft on or very near your Parrot.
- It is also possible that your young Parrot was kept in a much warmer area and has yet added the additional downy feathers needed for your home's temperature.
IMHO, neither of the heat sources you list are good for Parrots. The space heater listed above is a much better choice. BUT, only when you switch from cooling your home to heating it during the Winter months.
-Possible behavioral issue: Your Parrot may still be a bit fearful of your home and you. Continue to work at Trust Development.

SailBoat said:

Your Parrot should be very comfortable at your home's temperature.

- With a day time temperature of 76 degrees F, in Florida, during late Summer, it is likely the location of your AC unit (or vents) that are pushing a cool draft on or very near your Parrot.
- It is also possible that your young Parrot was kept in a much warmer area and has yet added the additional downy feathers needed for your home's temperature.
IMHO, neither of the heat sources you list are good for Parrots. The space heater listed above is a much better choice. BUT, only when you switch from cooling your home to heating it during the Winter months.
-Possible behavioral issue: Your Parrot may still be a bit fearful of your home and you. Continue to work at Trust Development.

Click to expand...

Yeah you might be right on the not quite adjusted part, he has no problem perching on my hand, but he does get scared easily and shiver, after a longer periods of handling it seems to go away. I am planning to start clicker training him this week though. Any thoughts on getting a UVB/UVA bulb though? I would like him to be in a sunnier room but my house is covered with oak trees and only gets sun in the early morning which I typically put his cage infront of to get him some nice early morning sun even though the UVB coming through is minimal due to windows being closed.

Standard Hardware store or Big Box store LED Daylight (blue) bulbs. Target a bulb that can be dimmed and has a longer life (see maximum hours).
Note: The dimming is important for everyone as LED Daylight (blue) bulbs can play with your internal clock as well as your Parrots. Dimming the light following the natural day light will keep every ones happier.
Provide whatever natural light that is available.

I use the sweeter heater
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CYTU95K/

SailBoat said:

Standard Hardware store or Big Box store LED Daylight (blue) bulbs. Target a bulb that can be dimmed and has a longer life (see maximum hours).
Note: The dimming is important for everyone as LED Daylight (blue) bulbs can play with your internal clock as well as your Parrots. Dimming the light following the natural day light will keep every ones happier.
Provide whatever natural light that is available.

Click to expand...

So I if im understanding correctly, the blue light will help with his activity levels, but still will not give him the UVB and UVA light correct?

phthalo said:

SailBoat said:

Standard Hardware store or Big Box store LED Daylight (blue) bulbs. Target a bulb that can be dimmed and has a longer life (see maximum hours).
Note: The dimming is important for everyone as LED Daylight (blue) bulbs can play with your internal clock as well as your Parrots. Dimming the light following the natural day light will keep every ones happier.
Provide whatever natural light that is available.

Click to expand...

So I if im understanding correctly, the blue light will help with his activity levels, but still will not give him the UVB and UVA light correct?

Click to expand...

Day Light Bulbs (Standard LED Home Use Bulbs) have a blue shift in their color and attempt to provide a light near a Bright Sunlight day at Noon in Late June (North half of the World). To provide this light they use a tint to the glass bulb! The color is near enough to trick the mind to believe that its Sunlight.

UVB /UVA light sources are IMHO dangerous for birds as to truly create this light source requires an electrical arc (solid rod) unit and produce a light red color. They are commonly used as heating sources, but if not installed and positioned correctly can cause blindness, exposed skin burns and possibly skin cancer (extended exposure).

Placement of lights - Test Before Use: With a lamp, place the Standard LED Light Bulb (60W or better a 40W) into the lamp socket and hold the light the distance you plan on placing the bulb from your Parrot. While looking at it, turn it on and turn it off. If you see spots in your field of vision, you have it to close. Keep moving it away until you no longer see spots. Do not be surprised if you find that you are over two metres (over 5 and a half feet away from you).

FYI: Our Avian Professionals are seeing ever greater number of ever younger Parrots with vision problems that are directly related to light bulbs far too close to their client's Parrots.

I use this K&H Manufacturing Snuggle Up Bird Warmer. My house gets down to 58-60°F in the winter and I have this mounted next to Nike's sleeping perch but she snuggles up to it all year long. It *may* heat a small covered cage at night but is really designed to substitute for another warm bird body to snuggle to.