Lighting, Behavior, and Wellbeing ...?

[GouldieFledge]

I have a few questions regarding lighting:

I put an incandescent light pointing to the bottom of the cage as a heat lamp a few days ago. I did it as a health/destress booster after one of my male gouldians suffered what I believe was a minor toe injury (recently posted about it).

Well, it seems as though the boys LOVE the lamp. They sit together and bask in the light. Would it be beneficial to provide a "heat lamp" constantly, would it be healthy for them to enjoy?

It got colder over the weekend so I put a heater on in their room as well, which they also really enjoyed, the girls too. I don't think I'm planning on using the heater regularly (unless it's really needed), but it made me wonder if putting the heater on for them occasionally as a "treat" would be a good/nice thing to do, or if it is better to always keep temperature a constant. They're indoors and the temperature is always comfortable.

I also noticed something unusual once I started providing the heater/heat lamp, and I'm not sure if it's connected or coincidental. I've had the males for a few weeks or so, and one was very dominant with the other--he'd peck him off perches, peck him out of food dishes, dive bomb him, etc. He'd chase after him if the other one began singing, too. I was starting to think I was going to need to move the bully. However ever since I started providing the heat light/warmth they're pals. They eat together, sit on perches near each other with no problem, etc. I've really seen a decrease in my one male's aggressive behavior. Is this totally coincidental and they've finally just grown accustomed to one another, or does the heat have some kind of calming/relaxing effect on the birds?

[lovezebs]

GouldieFledge

Hi.

I keep warm lamps over or beside all of my flights and all my birds love them. My birds are indoor as well, and the temperature in the house is usually at around 20 to 23 c.

I find that birds will occasionally get chilly and like to go and warm up. If there's no sun available, a lamp will be appreciated. Also if you have a bird who is feeling a little under the weather, they will love the beat. You will see, that they will sit under the lamp after a bath too, fluffing and preening until dry.

I just find that it's a good idea , and the birds seem to agree.

[debbie276]

In that picture your birds look rather fluffed. Not sure if they are always like that or it's just the action they were in when the picture was taken. If they are fluffed up they are cold so yes, they would love the extra heat. A better source would be a "Ceramic Infrared Heat Emitters" that give off no light so it wouldn't disturb their night sleep.
Here's a link to one so you can get the idea of what I'm talking about.
http://www.petco.com/product/5003/Zoo-M ... rolHeating
It would go into a dome fixture and could easily lay across the top of the cage or clamp on.
Sounds like they have worked out the pecking order and have finally settled down.

good luck

[MiaCarter]

Glad to hear that everyone is settled!

Agreed with Debbie that it sounds as though they've figured out the pecking order and flock dynamics.

I have a couple cages that enjoy a heat lamp 24-7.

I've tried heat lamps on all of the cages, but some never really used them, so I just use those only when needed.

But in other cages, the heat lamps are hot spots (literally and figuratively! LOL) There are 2 cages that enjoy the lamp 24/7. (and it serves as a night light for all the rest.)
I should note that the 2 cages with the 24-7 heat lamp have hooded nests so they can enjoy darkness. I also angle the lamps down and away from the nests so it's not disturbingly bright at night.

I always put up a heat lamp in cages where there are babies present. They help with stress and with chilling.

[flymouse]

Here is some information I have found on lighting.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/he ... light.aspx

Now my problem is I am not sure what to buy. Above GouldieFledge talks about the heat lamp. What size bulb?

Healtypets talks about UVA and UVB Rays needed. So what type of light holder do I need. I'm calling it a holder because the bulbs have to be put into something. What does everyone use. Can you please provide pics. Thanks.

[Sally]

A heat lamp is a must IMO, as heat can help a sick bird pull through, and especially necessary for an eggbound hen. This can be as simple as a gooseneck desk lamp with a 60w bulb aimed at one end of the cage, or you can spend as much as you want on these.

I like the ceramic heat emitters, as they put out heat without putting out any light, so the rest of the bird room is not kept awake all night. You MUST use a fixture with a ceramic or porcelain socket, as these emitters put out a lot of heat, much more than a simple bulb. A normal socket can overheat and cause a fire.

These usually run fairly expensive, and are sold as reptile heat lamps, not bird heat lamps, but they work for birds. I saw on eBay that there were a lot of much cheaper ceramic heat emitters, but then I saw they are coming from China. Personally, I want UL certified bulbs in my house, don't want to take a chance on something starting a fire, so I will pay the higher price for my peace of mind.

I have ceramic heat emitters in 60w and in 100w, and I use them depending on the size of the cage, how close the bulb will be to birds. Here is a link to one place where you can get the ceramic heat emitters:

http://www.petmountain.com/product/rept ... itter.html

This clamp-on lamp has a ceramic base:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-300-Watt ... /204684496

[Derk]

Sally

This clamp-on lamp has a ceramic base:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-300-Watt ... /204684496

Never thought to try Home Depot. I hope they stock them here in Canada. That is so much cheaper than the pet stores!

Thanks Sally!

[debbie276]

UVB and UVA type bulbs are mostly fluorescent bulbs that would go in a fluorescent fixture.
Here are a couple of articles on lighting explaining why and which bulbs to use.
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

[Brette]

I'm really undecided about heat lamps for everyday use, especially after what I went though last weekend with a new (second-hand) bird who was kept in very warm conditions all the time. I would be afraid that a heat lamp would make a bird into a hot-house flower which could ultimately be their demise.

Heat is absolutely essential when they are sick but I've never done anything special for my birds when it comes to temperature and even drafts. I've kept my birds next to a big window for many years though so they get the heat from the sun during the day and then the temp dips at night especially in the winter in my place. The birds seem to adjust fine without any fluffing.

[Sally]

I should have clarified in my post that I don't use heat lamps on a daily basis, as my birds are indoors. I only use them for sick birds. I have used them on a daily basis when I've had a really old bird that seemed to need it, but healthy birds should not need a heat lamp if they are indoors. When I had my birds in an outside unheated shed, I did keep a heat lamp on them on a daily basis during the winter, but they could sit underneath it or move away as they wanted.

[GouldieFledge]

Thank you to everyone for the input. Good articles.

I had no idea the ceramic heat emitters needed a particular socket (though it makes perfect sense now that I think about it).

[Sally]

I had no idea the ceramic heat emitters needed a particular socket (though it makes perfect sense now that I think about it).

They do put out a lot of heat, and from what I've read, the danger with a regular socket is that they are usually plastic and can melt/catch fire from the heat from a ceramic heat emitter. I just don't want to take a chance, so I use the ceramic/porcelain sockets.

[Derk]

Brette
I don't normally use a heat lamp, but I have decided to use them if a bird seems the least bit stressed when newly acquired. I recently had two die within 24 hours. A gouldian from a new purchase seemed a bit quiet - not very active - so I put a heat lamp on him. Within 24 hours he was fine. I don't plan on babying him forever, but it seems some birds may benefit from the added warmth during stressful times.