FINCHforum

Hello,
So in my converted cage I re-purposed a tube light fixture and put it on the ceiling of the cage. I would love to use it as a full spectrum light fixture to help the birds deal with the grey winters here. I have several questions:

1. Since the fixture requires a 23" bulb can I buy any tube bulb for this or are the only safe ones bird specific?

2. Would the be any danger to putting it on the ceiling of the cage? I will make sure they can shelter from it if need be, but i just want to be careful.

Thanks for the help!

If you can get a full-spectrum bulb that is 5000-5500k and cri of at least 92, that would be good for the birds, but it is sometimes very difficult to find bulbs of the correct kelvin and cri in the size for the fixture you might have. In that case, you make do with an ordinary bulb. If you are fastening it to the ceiling inside the cage, I think it would be OK, as long as the birds can't land on it. If it is just laid on top of the cage, I do that with my lights/cages, and it works out fine that way.

I'm all for laying it up top. My cage is (going to be) 37" long so there'll be some overhang.

I don't know what to do for the cockatiel, if I get him (rescue bird). The cockatiel cage has a silly "house" roof - slanted both sides. So I can't really lay the light up there, and it won't be level with the top of the other cage, either.

But that was the only cage PetSmart had when I picked up the birds that was not definitely too small for them.

If the cockatiel cage is large enough, you could zip tie a light fixture to one side of the roof. I did this with the Prevue F030, which has a slanted roof. I zip tied a 24" shop light to the front part of the roof, so the light is going back into the cage, not out into the room (and my face). It works.

Ah, I had not thought of that! I was thinking 4' fixtures because I have a ton of those that I use for my plants!

I like the "not in my face" part of that plan, too, LOL!