UV Lighting - A Video

[Spiritbird]

I thought this was very good except the person talks very fast.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H46owcabAdM&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Birds and Ultra Violet Light (www.MercolaHealthyPets.com)[/ame]#!

 

[wildheart]

Thanks Tannie Di and I dont think she was talking that fast.

I learned a new word as well - panchromatic eye!

So come on guys, give your birds some unfiltered sunlight or a uv light.

Remember that the light needs to be replaced every 6 months and dont buy the spiral lights they can cause eye infection.

 

[antoinette]

OMG that lady should become a commentator for the horses or something.......
I agree with SB, what a fast speaker...... she did slow down a bit later on though
Very interesting to learn all about UV Lighting
Thanks for sharing

 

[greycloud]

Very informative video. Whew! She is fast! Linky, your comment about spiral lights, do you also mean avian specific spiral lights?

 

[nofearengineer]

Remember guys, though our hearts are in the right place, UV lamps are not necessary if you are feeding a good diet rich in Vitamin D and cholecalciferol (which anyone who feeds quality pellets already does). Full spectrum lighting is obviously good for a parrot's (and ours too!) emotional health, and yes, the lamps do need to be changed out pretty frequently. A full-spectrum aquarium lamp will be okay in a pinch, but the window is better. Sunlight, even filtered through a window is best.

Please don't fall prey to the pet industry creating yet another niche market they can charge premium $$$ for. They really do take advantage of our willingness to do almost anything for our fids.

 

[Spiritbird]

Norf: I am following what my avain vet suggested on lighting and not the industry. Rosie's calcium level was excellent a month ago when she had her annual exam. The vet said anything above 7 was acceptable but the range is 7 - 10 and Rosie was 9.5 which she stated was very good for a grey.

 

[nofearengineer]

Rosie is obviously the beneficiary of awesome care and love. And if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I also know you feed her only the best. Her calcium would probably be fantastic even without the UV lighting. However, the UV lighting doesn't hurt anything (well, other than your curtains, furniture coverings, and human retinas ). Still, there is something to be said for a safety margin. You know me...over-analytical to the core.

 

[Spiritbird]

A true engineer!! Do carry the pens in your shirt pocket??

 

[nofearengineer]

Do carry the pens in your shirt pocket??

No comment.

 

[birdiemomma]

I was wondering if UV lighting would help a bird to gain weight [from the warmth]? My bird eats and eats but doesn't gain weight. No matter how much she eats she is in the 120's when she should be in the 130-140 range. I was wondering if UV lighting would help her metabolism a bit?

 

[Spiritbird]

Have you had this bird evaluated by an avan vet? I do not know if the lighting would have any effect of a bird's weight.

 

[birdiemomma]

The day after I got her I took her into an avian vet. We have been working on upping her weight and they suggested a bunch of different methods. After observing her they said that usually Hahn's macaws are very, very active so now she has a 1 hour naptime during the day to calm her down. We are shooting to get her back into the high 130's with weekly weigh ins at the vet. The avian vet in our area is amazing. I call them all the time regarding her weight. She has been blood tested and all came back fine. The Dr was very happy with all of her numbers so I know she is healthy.