Blocking window light

[canary3000]

Does anybody know a good way to block all light coming from a window. Im going to use artificial lighting and a timer. I can't have outside sunlight interfering. Not tinted. I thought maybe cutting cardboard squares might work. As long as no light filters thru. Any suggestions?

[Dave]

I don't understand why you would want to block the light from the window.

[wildbird]

Doesn't make sense to me either!

[CathyCraftz]

Why would you block light from the window? Your finches need the natural light.

[Icearstorm]

canary3000

Blackout curtains should work okay for the most part; a little light would probably come through the gap between the curtains and wall, but it shouldn't be enough to mess up the birds' photoperiod. It's also nice to have the option to easily unblock the windows and let the light come in during the day. Buy curtains larger than the window, put the curtain rod several feet above the window, and have the curtains extend a few feet either side of the window, and it will block out even more light.

[wildbird]

You shouldn't keep birds, if they have to live in the dark.

[canary3000]

My friend Gus helped me in explaining the reason for blackout windows and the light timer.
Many breeder begin the breeding mode for birds in December. That way they have birds available for shows and to sell when it's warm.
With the sun black out you control the light and duration.
My birds get lots of light. Breeders are able to control when they breed. You basically train them. Over a period increasing light in December, my canaries are eager to breed. After two nests, I start to reduce the light with my timer. So then they go into molt and then a rest period for several months. It's all about timing your birds. In winter we get short daylight. So my birds are not interested in breeding. Outside light would mess them up, perhaps go into a molt. I could certainly let in light during the day. Especially for fresh air. Large breeders are known to do this. As far as wildbird comment. I take such comments with a grain of salt.

[Icearstorm]

wildbird

canary3000 said

Im going to use artificial lighting and a timer.

They're not going to be living in the dark.

As to why canary3000 wants to block natural light, I don't know, but I would guess it's because the photoperiod the birds would get from the light outside would be wrong. If the birds are on a shorter winter-like photoperiod but the light outside lasts for several hours longer than they are used to, this could be a problem. This would probably be more important for birds like canaries, since their moulting seems to be more influenced by the photoperiod than other birds.

When I bought birds a year or so ago, it was clear that their circadian rhythms didn't quite match up with the hours of natural light, and it took a few weeks for them to adjust. Right now I have their light on a timer and adjust it by 15 to 30 minutes or so every few weeks to keep up with the natural lighting, although they seem to be influenced more by the cage lighting than the window lighting (they roost several minutes before the cage light goes off, even when there is still some light coming through the window).

EDIT seems I was late to press reply, canary3000 already explained

[ann]

When one of my daughters was a teenager, she blocked the light from the windows with aluminum foil. She cut the pieces exactly the size of the glass and taped them it. There was not a ray of natural light in that room. Thankfully her room was in the back of the house.

[canary3000]

When one of my daughters was a teenager, she blocked the light from the windows with aluminum foil. She cut the pieces exactly the size of the glass and taped them it. There was not a ray of natural light in that room. Thankfully her room was in the back of the house.

Thanks, that sounds like a very cost effective idea. Going to try it today when I get home.

[Sally]

You shouldn't keep birds, if they have to live in the dark.

They aren't going to live in the dark, they will have artificial lighting. In the north, some breeders use their basements as their bird room, and so they depend on artificial light. I understand that canaries are much more sensitive to light periods for breeding than most finches, so breeders need to control photo periods.

[wildbird]

I wonder how canaries managed to breed in the wild.

[Sheather]

In the spring, when they're meant to, I don't recommend artificial light if you have access to sunlight, it's superior for their health and activity levels.

[Dave]

I know a Canary breeder that had his birds in the basement, and he adjusted the light start time to match his work schedule. They didn't have morning until 11:00 a.m.

He followed the natural lengthening and shortening of day length; but all based on the 11:00 a.m. start.