Use of UV lamps in husbandry ?

[IndySE]

I'm looking at getting a lamp for my conure Kermit. She's had two seizures and I've noticed a lot of research indicating most pet parrots do not get enough UV light and can suffer from D3 & calcium defficiencies... to cover my bases, I wanted to look into a UV lamp. I'll be consulting her vet about this change before I implement it, but I would love to hear about anyone else who uses this for their birds & if anyone saw an improvement.

I'm also a little concerned about the safety of using these lamps. My understanding is you only switch it on for an hour or two each day, you need to be careful the lamp is directly over the cage and not touching the bars, and there isn't chords for the birds to chew on. I also noticed pretty much every UV lamp designed for parrot use has both UVA and UVB; in humans, UVB is commonly linked with cancer in high doses. The same seems to be true of parrots when I consulted this scientific abstract--
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I know it's all a matter of dosage, i.e. to some extent it's beneficial, but past a threshold it can be harmful. Perhaps this question is a bit too technical, but is there any specific brands or product specs I should look into that are /really/ safe for parrot use ? Thanks in advance

 

[SailBoat]

This subject has been addressed numerous times and will likely continue too, far into the future.

As a General Statement: Anytime you can move your Parrot near a window in which the Sun is shining though it, move your Parrot to that Window, regardless of whether it is a single, double, has a storm window - it just does not matter. The goal is to excite those centers in the brain that activate the needed chemicals to create /convert to D3.

Regardless of what you have read: A Light Bulb or Tube 'cannot' create UV! It can only create a color, which attempts to duplicate: Sunlight at high noon. This color is a blue /white, and the lowest cost, is to simply obtained it by purchasing and operating a LED standard light bulbs. Target the longest life LED, Day Light, standard light bulbs. No special fixture is required!

Placing the light bulb: With the bulb (no larger than 60 watts) at arm length from your eyes. Turn it on and turn it off! If you have a blind spot it is to close. With help continue to move it further a way or simply use a lamp shade!

Only a rod style lighting (in fact it is a heating) unit can create UV. They are very dangerous and great care must be take when using them as they can blind and burn skin!

Four to eight hours in the 'center of the day' is all that is needed!

Hope this helps!!!