I need your help about suitable lighting!

[debbie276]

I don't believe the lights are a waste of time at all, that's not at all what I said. The lights are important for visual stimulation, I just wouldn't count on them to give the birds Vitamin D.

There are those that choose not to have their birds outside for many different reasons, we can't all live in the perfect spot to have outside aviaries.

[dutch]

debbie276.....lights can't give birds vitamin d3...

[Chris103]

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/he ... light.aspx
This Is just the first article I pulled up, but they are all over the web....just google it and Do some reading. Lights are Not a waste...they regulate almost every function in a birds body. Let's pretend UVB didn't help D3 production...it allows birds to see colors that we can't, helping in mate selection, food selection etc. I wouldn't rely on UVB as the only form of Vit. D3, but it does Do something for them. Like others have said, we can't all raise birds outdoors, but we can Do everything possible to mimic an outdoor enviroment...for example, providing lights similar to sunlight which will, in some way, benefit our birds.

[dutch]

Chris103....i agree with everything you just said...but the d3 is The main thing birds need for survival and breeding ....i had 2 vets and 3 breeders tell me the lights won't be usefull for d3...

I use a product called Soluvite d breeder....it is designed for indoor birds...since using the Soluvite my birds lay clutches up to 12 eggs all fertile...

D3 is a must when breeding birds...the pet shops that buy my birds always comment on how good my finches look

[Max]

Thank you for all your wonderful advice, Im hoping with the introduction of suitable lighting it will help my 4 gouldians pair up.

Im starting to think they are not attracted to the opposite sex!

[Hilary]

Topic has been split to avoid highjacking Max's lighting thread. The rest of the D3 conversation has been moved to Health/Vitamin D3.

[flywhoaman]

Thank you Hillary. I do think there were two conversations going on. It became clear from the discussion and from the literature that lights do not provide the D3, only SUNlight can do that. It sounds like Soluvite D is a great alternative for those of us who don't live in the same natural climate that our beloved finches thrive.

I offer this link in support of the need for lights in aviculture:
http://www.ucm.es/data/cont/media/www/p ... 35_129.pdf
"In birds, the annual change in daylength is the most important environmental cue used for synchronizing breeding, moult, and migration with recurrent seasonal fluctuation in environmental conditions."


I will testify, however, the importance of light in ALL animals, including humans, and finches. Humans who live in very northern areas with little winter light can develop depression due to this absence of natural light which produces melatonin. Full spectrum lights help those individuals. We use lights to stimulate our chickens throughout the winter to continue laying eggs. I raise horses and we find that if we add light in our (show) barns during the winter, the equine response is not to develop a heavy coat. Blanketing helps but the light guarantees this response.

Light is important. Not for vitamins but for emulation of the endemic habitat.

[Sally]

I raise horses and we find that if we add light in our (show) barns during the winter, the equine response is not to develop a heavy coat. Blanketing helps but the light guarantees this response.

Light is important. Not for vitamins but for emulation of the endemic habitat.

It's been so many years that I had forgotten about this, but yes, we used to not only blanket our show horses in winter, but we added lights over each stall to lengthen the day and prevent the horses from developing that heavy winter coat. That is how most horse people are able to show those beautiful shiny coats on their horses at the stock shows in January and February.