Question About Fluorescent Ceiling Lights for My Birdroom

[FeatherHarp]

As we are drawing up plans for our retirement house it looks like my 'bird room' will be about 12' by 11'. Not as big as I hoped but I will take what I can get!

I am wanting to put in a ceiling mounted fluorescent light in there rather than a regular light but am not sure if one would be enough or if I should put two units in for more light. The cages will also have lights on them. There will only be 1 North window so there will not be a whole lot of natural light to start with.

What do you guys think.....one or two fluorescent lights for that size of bedroom? Any advice would be appreciated.

[debbie276]

I think a double fixture (2 bulbs) should work well in that size room.
good luck

[FeatherHarp]

Thanks for the reply Debbie. I am very excited about my birdroom becoming a reality after all these years.

[debbie276]

Are you planning on having them fly free in the room, in multiple cages or large aviaries?
Sounds like fun planning it all.

[FeatherHarp]

Debbie.....I won't be having any finches flying free (on purpose anyway ) I will have 4 black HQ flight cages in the room maybe even 5 if they will fit. I already have the cages and they have been in storage the last few years so I am anxious to get them out and filled with finches and maybe a parrot or two.

[debbie276]

Wow that sounds great!
Keep us posted on your progress and pictures if you can.
best of luck

[Ursula]

My walkin indoor aviary is about that size. (But my bird are free flying. ) I used to have a fluorescent ceiling lamp in there but actually changed it to one with normal light bulbs. The reason: I bought a dimmer light switch to be able to gently turn the light lower at night instead of suddenly turning it off, which scares the birds. Same for winter mornings when I turn the light gradually higher instead of suddenly turning it on. Fluorescent bulbs don't work with dimmers!

[lou]

Deborah,
I used to have the double daylight fluorescent tube lights in my bird room and changed them out to the daylight bubs ( less wattage and more light and it illuminates the the room better and I also have a 20 watt bulb that comes on before ( 1 hour)the daylight ones and turn off( 1hour) before
the daylight ones. check out this site for bulbs---www.1000bulbs.com
hope this helps.
lou

[CandoAviary]

I am soooo excited for you! The room will be great... I would put 2 fixture.. the more light the better in my opinion. I also would have them wired to 2 different switches if possible. you can install timers that cut the lights on and off automarically... set one to come on earlier, then the other to come on to add more light... to simulate the morning and noon cycle of the sun. Then program them to go off in stages to simulate early afternoon, evening then as lou suggested, have the night light come on before the last ceiling light goes off.
On the bird building..which is 10' x 20' I leave a small flor. light on 24/7... and just use automatic timers for the 2 main light.. I have a third ceiling light that is now a manual switch. I added 3 hanging work shop type lights... never enough light!!! I know you've seen this post but may give you some ideas
http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2 ... d+building

[purplejasminevn]

I am soooo excited for you! The room will be great... I would put 2 fixture.. the more light the better in my opinion. I also would have them wired to 2 different switches if possible. you can install timers that cut the lights on and off automarically... set one to come on earlier, then the other to come on to add more light... to simulate the morning and noon cycle of the sun. Then program them to go off in stages to simulate early afternoon, evening then as lou suggested, have the night light come on before the last ceiling light goes off.
On the bird building..which is 10' x 20' I leave a small flor. light on 24/7... and just use automatic timers for the 2 main light.. I have a third ceiling light that is now a manual switch. I added 3 hanging work shop type lights... never enough light!!! I know you've seen this post but may give you some ideas
http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2 ... d+building

Oh boy ... That is lovely breeding room Candace. I did not know that I have to walk backward just about 3 years to see this post . Nice job http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2 ... d+building

How big is this room? I agree more light is better. Never enough light- I love the daylight bulbs on birds cages. Thanks for sharing,

[Sally]

My breeding room is the spare bedroom, 12x14. It has a ceiling fan fixture, so I put a couple of red CFL bulbs in that for night lighting. Instead of having ceiling lights for lighting the room, I have a fixture on top of each cage. That way, each cage is well-lit--ceiling lights don't penetrate enough into each cage for me. You can use T8 fluorescent tubes on top of each cage. If these are the double HQ flights, I use a 48" lamp on top of mine. On the single HQ flights, I use 24" lamps.

This way, you can put a normal light fixture in the ceiling, and if you ever decide to get out of the birds, you can convert the room back to a guest room or whatever without having such utilitarian ceiling lights.

[purplejasminevn]

My breeding room is the spare bedroom, 12x14. It has a ceiling fan fixture, so I put a couple of red CFL bulbs in that for night lighting. Instead of having ceiling lights for lighting the room, I have a fixture on top of each cage. That way, each cage is well-lit--ceiling lights don't penetrate enough into each cage for me. You can use T8 fluorescent tubes on top of each cage. If these are the double HQ flights, I use a 48" lamp on top of mine. On the single HQ flights, I use 24" lamps.

This way, you can put a normal light fixture in the ceiling, and if you ever decide to get out of the birds, you can convert the room back to a guest room or whatever without having such utilitarian ceiling lights.

wow, sounds like same size with my guess room. We need that room NOT for guess but for our two ragdoll cats - - just in case we are not home and they like to play with little finches.

Sally, do you photos of the setting? I always love to see

[CandoAviary]

Q... bird houses are my specialty You may enjoy these if you didn't see this one either
http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2 ... bird+house

http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2 ... bird+house

Sorry Deborah... no more hyjacking your thread.. but a refresher look may give you more ideas

[purplejasminevn]

Q... bird houses are my specialty You may enjoy these if you didn't see this one either
http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2 ... bird+house

http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2 ... bird+house

Sorry Deborah... no mire hyjacking your thread.. but a refresher look may give you more ideas

I feel like I just came back from the State zoo....
ok. Looks like I might have to take a flight get down there and visit your aviary and take some Goulds back as carry on pets since you don't ship

[The canary man]

Hello Deborah...
As Debbie, Candy and other members mentioned above that double fluorescent light, 4 feet long will be good lighting but 2 double lights will be much better for that room size, i always like to mentioned and advise that full spectrum light must be :
at least 5000 K and 91 CRI.

I use 6500 K (Kelvin) and 98 CRI (color rendering index) which is the highest found in a fluorescent light, its the best for birds health .

Also this type of light will control the young's sex before the eggs hatch, i use the :

(1) 6500 k -98 CRI light to make my canaries produce males more than females .
(2) 5000 k - 91 CRI the chance is equal males and females .
(3) Black fluorescent light is absolutely will make them produce females more than males (less than 5000 k -91 CRI) .

The more light they receive is better as long as its installed two feet away from the cages not closer than that, rather than that it will be a big disturbing for their visions.

For more info about this subject visit page Canary new discovery .
Good luck .

Dean K.