Full Spectrum light.

perrysbirds · Post by **perrysbirds** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:50 pm

If you have your lights setup properly with the right amount of hrs per day and you know how to increase the lights gradually to get your birds in breeding condition,in my opnion any lights will work for you.Its fact!

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:00 am

While full spectrum lights make our birds look more vibrant to our eyes they are of little benefit to the birds themselves. The intensity of the light is not strong enough to really be of any benefit to them from a health stand point. When the bulbs are new the bird would have to be on a couple of inches from it for several hours before realizing any health advantages.

Sean

Pukasand · Post by **Pukasand** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:00 pm

Well, now, that helps. I don't need more lights to see the beauty of my birds. I have just heard so much about the vitamin D thing, I was afraid I was not giving them all they needed. They do have good light sources (multiple), and a window, although not direct sunlight.. that's what concerned me. I feel better. Everyone has been great. And my birds send a big 'CHEEP'!

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:34 pm

Now i'm concerned. I have a 'full spectrum' light above my cage and I plan to have them in the aviary (which I will eventually build).

There is an article on the Finch forum http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/lighti ... midity.php
that suggests putting in full spectrum lights.

I'm a novice fincher, so I wish to learn. My 'kids' have a North facing window which provides no direct sunlight.

What am I missing?

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:39 am

BillD,

Can you explain what you are concerned about? I'm not sure that I understand your concerns over lighting.

Sean

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:15 am

Sorry Sean..

I'm concerned that the full spectrum lights don't provide the light my birds will need in an indoor aviary. I'm trying to provide a good environment for them.

I have them in a room with a bay window, but it faces North and doesn't get any direct sunlight. They have 'talked' with the birds outside and I think they are happy, although they haven't given me any kids yet.

I will be building an aviary in that room for them. I just want it to be a good and healthful environment for them.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:44 am

I have been a proponent of full-spectrum lights for quite some time now. I really believed that they helped my birds. I've read that in the Pacific Northwest of the US, people are using full-spectrum lights to combat depression from all the dreary, sunless days.

However, I'm beginning to think that the bulbs that are pushed as 'natural' or 'daylight' or 'sunshine' are not as helpful as I had believed. I have used Ott-lite bulbs, which I really like, but they are expensive. I contacted the company to get the CRI rating for them, and never could get a clear answer out of them.

Robert Black has written an interesting article on cage bird lighting, which you can purchase at several sites, or it is reprinted with permission at the www.ladygouldianfinch.com site. His premise is that it is difficult to get the proper intensity from bulbs, so we need to be supplementing with vitamin D3 if the birds are not outside receiving true sunlight.

I will continue to use my full-spectrum bulbs--as Sean said, they make my birds look pretty, and I've always noticed that whenever I might have a cage that temporarily didn't have a light, those birds always seemed more subdued, less active. But I will not depend on these bulbs to supply my birds with D3.

BillD, I would certainly still install lighting in an indoor aviary--after all, you want to enjoy the beauty of your birds, too. Full-spectrum bulbs will light them up well, but be sure to supply vitamin D3 to the birds.

Pukasand · Post by **Pukasand** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:34 am

Thanks all, for the insight into lighting. I have decided to go with the flow and purchase the lights. It's better to have and not need, than it is to need and not have. I suggest you install them in you new aviary also BillD. Better safe than sorry. I got mine at Kmart! I bought a double 48" shop light and 2 full spectrum bulbs for under $30. I agree with Sally, I think the extra light will make the birds happier, if nothing else. They have plenty of shade plants if they want privacy or some peace and quiet.

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:09 pm

Thanks ALL..

I will be installing the lights in my aviary. Two 48" twin bulb lights above it. I did get the specs on the bulbs.

Sylvania full spectrum bulbs. 2200 Lumen, 40 watt, 90 CRI and 5000k

I did see that jimlas posted they should be 91 CRI and 5500k (thanks Jimlas)

I don't know if there are any 48" bulbs with the spec that jimlas posted.

I guess I need to learn more about vitamin D3. I'm a novice. I just want my birds to be happy and if the lighiting makes them look better, that's a plus.

Is vitamin D3 in the seed they eat, or do I need to supplement it in their water? Guess I need to do more research.

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:11 pm

BillD,

Sorry, I was off the grid for couple of days helping a friend of ours in Chicago build a custom bird flight for his Gouldians.

Sounds like the lighting you're providing with the combination of daylight and "full spectrum" lights are about as good as you can get.

Sally is right about offering them foods or supplements containing vitamin D3 for proper metabolism of calcium in a caged environment.

As for not having any kids for you as of yet. . .they may not be ready to make the leap into parenthood. Give them more time. If they are acting happy then chances are good that they are happy. From the sounds of it you are doing just fine.

Sean

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:53 pm

Thanks Sean and no worries..

Harriet did lay an egg late last year in a food cup and I removed it, so I know she can (don't know if it was fertile). Bosley is an older male (2007) and Harriet is a young female (2008). She wasn't a year old when she laid it. Bosley does sing to her a lot.

I am in no hurry for them to produce offspring, but it would be nice to have some little ones, eventually. They both have split to fawn and I would like to see if they could have fawn self babies.

I love the fawn Owls, but we don't seem to have any here in the states.

Is there information on the FIC regarding food and supplements for vitamin D3?

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:48 pm

I don't know if there is any info on FIC about vitamin D3.

Most of the Morning Bird supplement products contain some degree of vitamin D3. Might explain why we have had such good luck with their line of products.

I don't think that we have ever found any information stating exactly how much vitamin D3 finches need.

Sorry, can't say I know much more than that.

Sean

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:32 pm

I did get a sample of the Goldenfeast Australian blend, but my birds don't like it much (Societies are not Australian?). They do love millet sprays, but the huge ones I purchased from the Bird Mart are not their favorite. I still have some that I picked up from the 'Petsmart' and i'm trying to introduce the new ones.

Guess I need to be patient and learn.

I do plan to plant some millet in my yard. Another new food for them.

Appreciate all the advice and I hope I'm not hijacking this post.

franny · Post by **franny** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:03 pm

BillD,

The liquid calcium supplement I got is called Calcivet made by VetaFarm, and it has Vitamin D3 added. Can't recall where I got it, but there should be plenty of distributors for Vetafarm products.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:59 pm

I also mailed Sally a small container of Calcium with D3. I use it for all my birds. Not sure if Sally tried/used hers yet!