FINCHforum

I saw a Metal lamp today and red bulbs at walmart made for reptiles.and they are 75watts. my cage is pretty big for them to move from the heat. is this okay to use or should i use a ceramic heat lamp? it was like only $15 for the lamp and bulb together.

Is your cage outside? If it is, I would think 75w would be fine in Florida, just so the birds are able to move away from the heat lamp. If the cage is inside, I don't think you would need to use a heat lamp on a daily basis with Zebras, they can take cooler temps. You could keep the heat lamp for use with sick birds.

Jamezyboo21,

I've learned from a very experienced breeder who keeps all his birds outside that acclimatized birds can handle fairly cold temperatures and even successfully breed in them. A bigger problem with outside aviaries is cold drafts, so make sure the aviary is in a wind quite area or is enclosed on the side the prevailing winds blows from

I put the cage on my back porch in a corner where the wind doesnt get to but they are able to still have some morning sun.

Perfect, they should do well there!

they seem to be pretty happy. now that they have settled down i have 4 nest with eggs in them and the quail started to lay eggs again.

most finches will aclimatize in time. all of mine are in utdoor aviary and even during the coldest parts of winter I dont use heat lamps or give them any extra protection, they seem to cope quite well, my gouldians thrive and would breed all year if allowed to.
although I must say it doesnt get as cold here in south australia compared to the winters a lot of you have to put up with.

mickp, how protected are your aviaries from wind? In South Africa we also have great weather for keeping finches outside and 80% of mine are but I've had problems during the cold months (July and August) with winds. Since I closed 3 sides of my aviary I've not had one death due to cold (rats were my biggest problem)