FINCHforum

Are these bulbs suitable for above/behind the finches cages?

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... lInUS%2FNo

It should be fine....I have left over sunsticks and full spectrum bulbs from our reptile cages that work just fine.

Please check out the UVA and UVB of that bulb. I buy ZooMed avian bulbs and mix them with the Natural Lighting bulbs at Home Depot. I have an aquarium and can not imagine that UV is a consideration - could be wrong!

This is an excerpt regarding Finch lighting:
Birds have four color vision and the lower wavelength (UVA) adds the fourth visual perspective. Correct spectrum and photoperiod of light are also critical factors in normal preening as well as the skin and feather health of birds. If a bird's system is not stimulated through adequate environmental lighting to maintain proper endocrine function, it may become lethargic and not continue normal preening behaviors. A full spectrum bulb with a CRI (color rendering index) of 90 or higher contains enough UVA to achieve this. It is middle untraviolet light (UVB) that causes Vitamin synthesis in the skin. Most professionals agree that the UVB needs to be somewhere between 290 and 310 nanometers in wavelength and a color temperature of 5000 Kelvin for this to occur.

*Glass windows filter out up to 90% of the beneficial UV spectrum unless that glass was made pre 1939. Aluminum screening used can filter out 30% or more UV light. High-grade acrylic (cages) filters out less that 5% of the UV light.

The FeatherBrite full spectrum bulbs can provide these important benefits. The FeatherBrite full spectrum bulb is a compact spiral fluorescent, 15w, 5500k, 91 cri. UVA 4%, UVB .05% (UVB is between 290-310 nm in wavelength) It has a standard screw-in base and will burn approximately 8000 hours and is guaranteed for one year. This bulb cannot be used with dimmable controls because it has an electronic ballast with a flicker rate of 60,000 per second.