Full Spectrum Lighting - how close is too close?

[AzillaFinch]

Hey all! I initially purchased reptile lighting, then read that it was a big fat oops and returned the lights and purchased correct avian lighting with CRI 93 and 5500K. I read online in several places that this lighting should be placed no closer than 2 feet to the cage, as it could harm the birds (as in be too intense for them). I have also read that it doesn't give them a ton of vitamin D3 and thus, the lighting needs to be placed right on top of the cage so it is as close as possible to the birds.

What's the correct thinking on this?

The lighting doesn't seem all that bright. I know that brightness may not equate to intensity, but they do seem rather dim (just thought I'd throw that out there).

Any advice welcome

[finchmix22]

AzillaFinch
lighting for finches should be UVA and UVB spectrum for birds. Usually, reptile lighting is not UVA AND UVB together. I place the bulbs on the top of the cage and place the perches about 6 inches below the cage top. So, the bulbs end up being about 8 -10 inches from the finches on their perches.

[debbie276]

The birds will benefit from the lights with visual simulation. I would never count on the lights supplying the vitamin D, for that I would offer hard boiled eggs. You could also add vitamin supplements to the food.
In my basement bird room I ran banks of lights down the center of the room so each cage could see them

[AzillaFinch]

debbie276 Gotcha! Vitamins via diet and lights for visual benefit. Is there any danger in how close the light is to them?

My one cage's top perch is 5 inches below cage top; other cage is same BUT it's one of those knotty natural branch things and the ends bend up to practically the top of the cage and THAT is where my guys like to sit... so if I put the light on that cage directly on top of the cage, it'll practically be on top of the birds (which, I'm thinking would probably NOT be good). Am I right?

I have nothing overhanging the cages like a shelf to mount the lights to, so right now I have the lights propped 3 inches above the cages on wire cooling racks from the kitchen until I can get something proper to mount them on.

[AzillaFinch]

finchmix22 Yeah, I don't know why I didn't research before I made my purchase. Some teenager working in the petstore told me the lights could be used for both reptiles and birds (that will teach me to wing it when supply shopping!) All it took was about 5 or so minutes on the internet for me to discover that this was not the case.

[debbie276]

I've never had the lights that near the cage but know many that lay them right on top of the cage. Personally a light that close to me would drive me bonkers but hey I'm not a bird so who knows.

[AzillaFinch]

I've never had the lights that near the cage but know many that lay them right on top of the cage. Personally a light that close to me would drive me bonkers but hey I'm not a bird so who knows.

I'm thinking the same thing. I think right on top would drive me mad if I were a bird. Right now I have them set towards the back of the cages so that they are not directly overhead and a complete annoyance to them. The fronts of the cages are clearly dimmer, so I think they're ok. I'm going to find some way of propping them up a little higher though. This just has to last until Oct. That's when I'm getting the new A&E double flight and putting bookshelves over it specifically for this issue. I think the peeps shud be ok till then.

Thanks for the thoughts... wanted to be sure I wasn't nuts.

[wildbird]

When having so much light on a cage, it would seem that the birds should have some place to get away from the lights, like a small hideout, if they want to. I used to cut out the bottom of paper bags, fold them over to make a tunnel and cut them down to size for my sparrows. They used to love them.

[Sally]

I lay the light fixtures on top of the cages, but there are plastic plants inside for them to hide out in.

[AzillaFinch]

wildbird THAT is a COOOOOOL idea!!! I am stealing that!!

Brilliant!!!

[AzillaFinch]

Sally I have some plants, but they don't really provide any shading. Mostly they're just dangly and here and there and they like to pick at them. I really don't know how to arrange my plants to provide enough coverage to give shade. Could you maybe post a pic of your setup to give me an idea of how to go about it?

I did see a pic someone posted where they just flat out placed a towel over a portion of the top of the cage for shade. I suppose if I can't get enough coverage with foliage I could do that.

When I get the double flight I want to have 3 lights across the cage and set them on timers... and only have one on a time- setting the timers so that the first one comes on for x hours, then that one goes off and the second one comes on for x hours, then that one goes off then the third on comes on for x hours then goes off when it's bed time. That way no one part of the cage is always "in the sun" and if one of my boys wants to spend all day on his favorite perch, 2/3 of the day it is shady. But this isn't till Oct

[kyle]

Brilliant! I have plastic plants along the back but never thought about hanging it out further so they could climb through it. I bet they would love it.