FINCHforum

I just purchased an Infrared Heat Lamp that is 125 watts. It does emit some light, would it be okay to leave this on 24/7 so the birds can go to it if they want to warm up?

Our aviary is 4ft x 6ft x 6ft, the light is at the top and I have a few perches below it so the birds can get whatever heat they want.

It probably is OK.
BUT, make sure that you use a properly rated lamp housing with a ceramic base. A 125w lamp will get HOT.

It should work fine and it's a good idea to have perches at different distances so they cn pick their spot for just the right amount ofnheat they need.
Good luck

Heat lamp is a good idea but 125watts sounds a bit strong. What Debbie said about perches is great and what Gary stated about a ceramic heat lamp is spot on. If your lamp is ceramic covered a good trick that I have been shown was to place heat lamp in a ceramic pot plant bowl hang it upside down so opening in pointing down and light and hang it by a chain from the roof. It dose get heavy and a chain is strong enough to hold the weight. With this idea the pot plant bowl is protecting the lamp so no birds can land on it and burn themselves and well as giving a spot directly underneath to get warm, oh I should have said its supposed to hang about 4-5 inches off the floor. If your placing this heat source outside of a cage then disregard the pot plant heat source.

Intersting - I'll have to post a photo. I have 1/2" wire mesh on top of my aviary that measures 4x6 ft. I have it kind of in a corner sitting on top of the wire mesh. About 1 foot under the light is the first perch. The birds fly to it relax a bit, and then fly away. Some light to sit under and and tilt their heads to the left or right - have not figured this out. They look really relaxed when they do it though - almost like they are sitting in paradise or something.

Yup, that is how some of my gouldians look when they go under the heat lamp.

I would put a few perches at different distances from the lamp. That way they can choose the amount of heat they want.

those little sunbathers are adorable Thanks for this topic, have had some questions about heat lamps and this answered them!

If you are using the type of heat lamp that is used for poultry that emits a red light, that can work as a night light as well, letting the birds see at night. 125w is pretty strong, but in an aviary, with choices of perches, it should be OK. If you see that your birds don't stay under the lamp, you can always move that perch away a bit. I used to keep my birds in a shed outside, and I used the red heat lamps to keep the birds warm in winter. At night, the shed glowed red, and I actually had a few neighbors who briefly thought my shed was on fire! Luckily, they looked closer before calling the Fire Department!

hi, i just bought a heat lamp also, it does get warm, my birds usually move away from it............so i dont have it on all the time. i dont understand the wattage, its in micrograms, anyone understand that??

thanks Sandy

Just for a little more information - I had a 60 watt bulb in a ceramic base lamp (Fluvers brand) and left it on 24/7. After 3 days the bulb exploded. I went back to the store and they said that happens sometimes and that the light should be shut off once a day for a while. No where on the packaging did it suggest it was necessary. Just a heads up that that could be a problem too.

Jenny

last year i bought a small heat panel from avi tech in california, the birds seem to like this on those cooler nights, and these do not emit any light--i thought this would be nice because of the lack of light and saftety issues---these lay flat on top of the cage and direct the heat downward only and cannot tip or fall over, they come in various sizes, i only used a small 35 watt, and i now have a 50 watt which i haven't used yet but i have it if i need it--maybe for a hospital cage situation or such---but i do like this product--is anyone else useing these?