FINCHforum

I want to get some full spectrum light/lights for my birds. Okay, now, what wattage do I buy? Should it be a bulb or flourescent? Do I put it directly over the birds on top of the cage or to the side to light the entire room? Will it make the wires of the cage too warm, I dont want to burn the birds! Do I also need a timer to regulate the light? I can't find any info. online nor at my pet store.. HELP!

I use one of those spiral compact flourescent in a reflector with a spring clamp. It generates very little heat, I have it so the edge of the reflector is an inch away from the cage, so I can slip in a cage cover at night.
And mine is on a timer that I got at Home Depot.

The problem that I have is that the cage that my wife selected has a round top, so I have to clamp the light to the bookshelf next to the cage. If I had a flat top cage, and did not cover the top of the cage at night, I would simply lay the reflector on top of the cage. Or just get one of the fixtures that use a straight flourescent tube.

I guess I should 'look before leap'. I just found the answers on the info. side under HOUSING. Sometimes I amaze myself at my stupidity.

Much thanks, AC12, any guidance is appreciated!

ac12 wrote:I use one of those spiral compact flourescent in a reflector with a spring clamp. It generates very little heat, I have it so the edge of the reflector is an inch away from the cage, so I can slip in a cage cover at night.
And mine is on a timer that I got at Home Depot.

The problem that I have is that the cage that my wife selected has a round top, so I have to clamp the light to the bookshelf next to the cage.

I also use the "clamp lights" with the spiral compact lights. ac12 - why do you cover the cage at night? I never cover any of mine.

Pukasand
You can get the light and bulb from walmart[ fluorescent] I just lay mine on top of cage they don't get hot .I have a overhead flour.over some other cages the shop light kind with the metal shade.

I use a flat tube type that was meant for an aquarium. It also gives off very little heat. And it's on a timer, so I can sleep in and not worry about them sitting in the dark on the weekends.

I also never cover my cage at night. I think they need a bit of light at night, so there is no night fright. Best not to cover the entire cage, leave a wee bit open, so a night light can shine in, IMO. But maybe that's why you cover it? To keep them quiet so you can sleep in? I never found that to work anyway. My GB male likes to "sing" quite loudly at about 5:00 am, when it's still quite dark out. Every morning for about 4 or 5 minutes. Then he's quiet until the overhead light comes on at 8:30 or so.

I picked up some under cabinet 18 inch fluorescent lights for around $7 each. The full spectrum bulbs to put in them cost just as much as the fixtures.

I just set them on top of the wire. They don't get very hot.

I picked up 2 four foot double tube fluorescent light fixtures and a box of 10 full spectrum bulbs (they were on sale). They will be in my aviary when I finally get to building it. I have one lamp on top of my cage now and it is on a timer.

I would suggest a timer, but others know much more than I do.

I have a nice timer that I can plug in all the lamps. It's an outdoor timer with 6 inputs.

My birds do sing in the morning when the lamps come on. It tells me they want their bath water.

I'm a novice and learning. Hope you find great information from more knowledgable people.

Liz
My cage is in the family room, which is completely open to the kitchen. One of those setups where 2 rooms (the kitchen and family room) are in one physical room. So when I'm in the kitchen after "lights out" the family room side of the big room gets illuminated by the kitchen light.

Right now the cage is sort of shaded by a book shelf.
But when/if I add more cages, the front of the cage will probably be at 45 degrees to the kitchen so it would get directly illuminated by the kitchen light.

It would be nice to not have to hassle w the cover every night but then the birds would get disturbed by the kitchen light going on whenever we go into the kitchen. I dunno...maybe that isn't the issue that I'm thinking it is.

I think if i had that setup with the lights coming on and off I would cover them also. I have a nandy conure and two cockateils thats covered every night even when its hot at night on a screen porch they like being covered I think they feel safer they just scream when I tried to leave covers off

I thought only people who have hook-bills need to cover their birds at night. The way my cages are, it would be quite an ordeal and they would freak out!

I only cover the hook bills .
Do you have lights going on and off near your cages,if you do I think that would bother the birds?

Pukasand wrote:I want to get some full spectrum light/lights for my birds. Okay, now, what wattage do I buy? Should it be a bulb or flourescent? Do I put it directly over the birds on top of the cage or to the side to light the entire room? Will it make the wires of the cage too warm, I dont want to burn the birds! Do I also need a timer to regulate the light? I can't find any info. online nor at my pet store.. HELP!

well here's an addy , pitty again its in dutch but with a bit of patient and an online translator , they do ship worldwide and they are world leader in daylight lightbulbs , tubes , clocks

http://www.rimo.nl/index1.html

ray

I just asked this question in the breeding section because the amount of light that your birds get has an effect on their health and breeding.
From what I have read- Full spectrum lighting is required for your birds but it has to be 5500K with a 91 CRI. The CRI stands for color rendition and the higher the better. I found some spiral 5500K 90 CRI on line and am using them.
So if you look up full spectrum lighting look for those numbers.