What color bulbs for heat lamps, & why?

[finchandlovebird]

I've used red 60 watts & was looking for some today at a home store. They don't make them anymore I think. They had 60 watt LED, but a man told me they don't throw off heat.
The only red bulbs they have are spots; high wattage.
Went to PetSmart then & looked there. All their red bulbs are for reptiles & 50 watt & up are their wattage, no 60 watts, & range in price from $11 on up. Expensive.
I did find there a 60 watt Nighttime Incandescent Heat Bulb for $7.99. It's purple; this is what the box says:
Provides radiant heat, lasts up to 3,500 hrs. Natural sunlight is comprised of 3 primary types of light: visible, ultraviolet (UVA & UVB), and infrared. UVB light promotes vitamin D synthese.

What is the consensus of this on the forum I find my newly fledges really seem to like to sit in a heat lamp.

[Sally]

I use the ceramic heat emitters. They are expensive ($20-24), but I figure it will last forever, since I only use it for therapeutic purposes. So is this light infrared? It sounds like it would work as a much less expensive bulb than the ceramic heat emitters, and it would not put out a lot of light at night to disturb their sleep.

[Atbird]

I use a similar bulb, mine is the daylight reptile heat bulb and is blue, but when it's on it is white light. I use for an hour or two a day in the winter so the birds can have a warm spot to dry off in. I figure it's like a patch of sunlight. Unless you are using it at night, I don't think it matters what color.

[finchandlovebird]

Sally; what's the difference between incandescent & infrared?
This is what is says in total on the box:

• Natural sunlight is comprised of 3 primary types of light: visible, ultraviolet (UVA & UVB) & infrared.
  • Visible light can be seen by humans & animals. It aids in creating differentiated day & night cycles.
  • UVA light helps provide visual signals & encourages natural behaviors.
  • UVB light promotes Vit D synthesis, which is essential for proper calcium absorption & bone health
  .
  • Infrared lighting provides heat
  .

[debbie276]

http://www.avitec.com/Cage-Heaters-s/4.htm

If the heater doesn't heat the air the bird will need to be in front of it to feel heat.

[finchandlovebird]

Good article Debbie; yes, this light gives off heat & I have it aimed at a perch where the birds can come & go from & move around.
So I guess COLOR of the bulb isn't that important As long as it gives off heat

[debbie276]

I'm sure to some extent the color means something, if not for heat for what they see visually. We all know how sensitive our birds are to the color spectrum. Wish I could say one way or the other but I've only ever used the ceramic heaters when needed, not bulbs.
good luck, let us know how you do with them

[finchandlovebird]

One more silly question: what color are the ceramic bulbs people use

[debbie276]

there is no color emitted because there is no light, here's a link

http://thepetblog.hubpages.com/hub/How- ... r-Reptiles

[finchandlovebird]

Not to beat a stone to death; but why then, the often mention of red bulbs.......also blue, violet, etc used in conjunction with providing heat for birds

[debbie276]

I would guess if your going to have a light shining, red would be less bothersome then white.

[Atbird]

I think red is believed not to interfere with the sleep cycle, so that you could keep the heat source on 24 hrs. But I seem to recall that this info is outdated. Besides, a lot of info about colored bulbs came about before the availability of ceramic heaters which give off infrared without light

[finchandlovebird]

Thanks all; I learned a lot about this

[KarenB]

Red is easiest on the eyes at night if you need to use a regular type of bulb. I also use red bulbs in my night lights so they don't wake me too much when I get up to go to the restroom in the middle of the night.

I learned this tidbit of info one time at an observatory. They had the walkways to the stargazing area all lined in red lights as to not disturb your night vision for stargazing purposes.