Question about lighting in a cage

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:23 am

We have had fish in the house awhile back and wanted to know if there is a difference between the light we used for the fish tank to what most use for the bird cages? We used a long tube blubs.......(

do you think I can think of the word right now

) but anyways. Would that be what I could use for light sorce in the new cage?

thanks

Post by **Sally** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:42 pm

Depends on what kind of lighting you used on your aquarium. I have planted tanks, so I use 6500k daylight bulbs on them. For your finches, you want full-spectrum, or natural daylight bulbs. I also look for a CRI of at least 90. I am experimenting right now (on my 4' shop lights) with one natural daylight tube and one plant tube. On the cages that have a 2' single bulb light, I use the full-spectrum tubes.

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:39 pm

should you keep a light on at all times? My finches are in a 14'x14'garden area that has a 7 foot wall around it and is screened in. There is a roof over the double flight cage and they get plenty of sunlight (no direct sunlight). Our weather is starting to cool off now and I would like to put a light in or near the cage for warmth. I was thinking about a small outdoor electric space heater to keep them warmer on cold nights. Of course I would keep the heater away from cage at a safe distance. There are lots of plants in there to help hold the heat in as well. Could anyone recommend what I should use or not use? Thanks

Post by **Sally** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 11:52 pm

I have gone thru many types of heaters, as my birds used to be in an unheated shed, and now they are in an attached room that also doesn't have heat. I have used the typical small space heaters, then I went to ceramic heat lamps for each cage, now I have too many cages to do that. With your setup, a double flight cage, I would think the ceramic heat lamps would work really well. I like them, as they don't put out any light at all, just heat. I used them with those clamp-on type lamps with a reflector hood, aimed at a perch. That way, the birds could gather under the heat lamp if they wanted, or move away if it became too warm. I had mine on a timer, so they were off during the day. Then if we had a cold spell where it was cold during the day too, I would leave the lamps on 24/7. You could put one at one end of the flight, and the birds will use it when they want to.

I have been using the small space heaters, but I think I am going to try one of those oil-filled radiator type things. They are supposed to warm a small room, and this way you don't have a fan blowing air around to worry about drafts. I also added a humidifier to the bird room, as the dry winter air gets even worse with a space heater going. You probably don't have to worry about dry air, being in Florida, plus a garden area with lots of plants probably has lots of humidity, too.

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:47 am

Sally, thanks for the info....I guess I can get the ceramic lights from Lowe's or Home depot? Sure to find them on line. As for the heater, I hope to find something like the old coil type with no blower, however, if I get a blower type, I will be sure not to blow directly towards the cage. Thanks again
Kathleen

Post by **Sally** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:10 pm

The ceramic heat lamps aren't available at the home improvement stores, at least in this area. They are sold as a pet heater, in the reptile section of stores like PetsMart. They are quite expensive, but they are supposed to last 5 years, plus I figure that I am not using them except for during the winter, so they should last even longer. I went to the PetsMart online store, where they were quite a bit cheaper than in the store, and then price-matched at my local store. Also, do a search online, you see them on eBay from time to time at better prices.

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:45 pm

Thanks Sally...we have a Pet Supermarket up the road so I'll check with them tomorrow. We also have Pet-Co and a Pet Smart close by, so I should be able to find something fast. We have the new baby and four more eggs and I don't want to take a chance with the weather. This is Florida, so this time of year it can be 75-80 degrees in the daytime and drop into the 40-50's at night. And during our winter season, we can even have temperatures below freezing. I know finches are hardy, but why not give them the best.

kiwi & mango · Post by **kiwi & mango** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:57 am

thanks eveyone I am going to do out in the next day or two to get a full spectrum light for the cage I think it will be the best and if the lights really last as long as they say they do it will be just worth the knowing it is there for them.

So now my question is..... my cage is 30 inches wide, 22 deep and 36 high. What watt light is best for that size cage or can I get bulb and place it in a corner for their need when they feel like it? or all over light?

What does every think?

thanks

Post by **Sally** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:59 am

I like to use tube-type lights when all I need is lighting, not heat, as they give broader coverage. The problem I'm running into is that it is harder to find 2' shop light fixtures that take T12 bulbs. I recently found a 2' shop light at Wal-Mart, but it has 2 T8 bulbs that come with it, and I can't seem to find full-spectrum 2' T8 bulbs. Some on here have used the under-the-counter type fixtures from Wal-Mart, but again, I can't find full-spectrum bulbs for those fixtures, either. It's not a problem for my breeding cages, as I use 4' shop lights over sets of 2 of them, and it is easy to find 4' T12 full-spectrum bulbs. Anyone else having this problem?

Kiwi & mango, the full-spectrum lights are just for lighting, and you don't really want light just in a corner. I may have confused you with my last post. Full-spectrum lights for lighting the cage, health of the birds, broad coverage; ceramic heat lamps, give no light but provide warmth, spot coverage (and these are the ones that last a really long time).

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:23 pm

Got the ceramic light 150wts yeaterday at Pet-Co and mounted using the specified clamp lamp. I got the one with the highest watts because my birds are outside. Between the 7ft walls/screened in area, plants and a roof directly over their double flight cage along with the heat lamp, I think they were able to keep warmer if they needed to. Thanks again

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:19 pm

Being a professional photographer and understanding light and the light spectrum I agree that you want a 6500 kelvin light for as close to natural day light as you can get artificially.

Contrary to popular belive your birds do not truly benefit from full spectrum lights as many people think. Because the intensity of the average flouresant light is so low the birds have to be a couple of inches from the light for several hours for it to benefit the bird. Another problem is that on about 6 months the bulb starts to drop in Kelvin degree, and it is not noticeable to the human eye. Full spectrum lighting simply allows us and the birds to see light in as close to it's broadest spectrum artificially.

Day light bulbs should be available at any Lowe's or Home Depot and will gvie you around 5600-6000 kelvin. Since your birds really don't benefit from full spectrum these work great as well.

Sean
Fairestfinches.com

Post by **Sally** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:05 pm

Darn it, I forgot to mention that with those ceramic heat lamps, you need the clamp light with a ceramic base. The plastic screw-in base can melt from the heat of these lamps. I saw this posted on another forum, and it reminded me. I got my clamp lamps at Tractor Supply--most farm and garden stores will have them, to use as brooder lamps. Sorry!

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:41 am

Hey Sally...no problem, I figured it out, and when in doubt, just read the recomendations on the box. I purchased the clamp lamp that goes with the ceramic light. I think they really like it and it gives me peace of mind.

Post by **Sally** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:52 am

I think you will really like the ceramic heat lamps. You can't tell they are on, except to put your hand in front of it, but be careful not to touch the lamp, they get hot. If you aim it at one perch at one end of the cage, they will huddle under it if they are chilly, yet be able to move away if they get too warm. My birds loved these lamps!

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:13 am

I clamped it to the side which has the nest with the new chick. The nest is about 18-20 inches away from it. However, I laid a non flamable cloth over the roof to cover less than 1/2 of the double flight cage. The roof extends well beyond where the lamp is and besides that the clamp light has a grill covering the dome for safety. Last night it got down to about 45 degrees, so I think what I rigged up helped to hold in some of the heat. Thanks for all your help