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Post by Marianne Marlow on May 23, 2015 11:21:06 GMT
I have a UV lamp for my birds but haven't really used it yet.
How long would you give yours per day under the lamp and what distance from them should it be?
I have 9 birds, with 3 cages, so I guess I'd have to lock them all in their cages for it.
Also what time of day is best.
Any advice appreciated!
M
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Post by suesbird on May 23, 2015 12:53:06 GMT
I do mine in a morning when I am in for about 4 hours, about 18 inches to 24 inches away. I can not do it everyday but as often as I can. I saw a difference in Jo Jo within a week, so much livelier and happier
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Post by Marianne Marlow on May 23, 2015 14:56:32 GMT
Thanks suesbird Cos I have 3 cages of birds (when they're in! which is only at bedtime) I don't think I'll be able to do it for that long. I'll try something tomorrow though... on Budgie Weighday!
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Post by starlingqueen on May 23, 2015 14:59:42 GMT
I only use mine on the aviary and I leave it on all day every day. I have too many cages to use them on all of them so I supplement them with D3 instead.
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Post by OP on May 23, 2015 16:37:23 GMT
I have only the one cage but the light is sat on top of the cage at one end. The buds can sit at the other end if they want. I have it on a timer to come on for two hours on a morning and two hours in an afternoon. I leave the cage open during those times if I am in. I have been surprised but both Joey and Whiskers know when the light comes on because they come back to the cage for a sun bathe. Edward moves about the cage, sometimes sitting quite close and others as far away as she can.
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Post by Marianne Marlow on May 24, 2015 9:34:39 GMT
Does this look okay? Billybob went and sat directly under it, madam is not so sure..
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Post by suesbird on May 24, 2015 10:19:55 GMT
I have mine lower and mine sit under it too. They seem to know it us good for them.
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Post by samwiseg on May 24, 2015 10:28:42 GMT
I cant remember where I read it but it mustn't be too close for buds as they can get a skin cancer from it like we can - and it also needs to "burn off" for a couple of hours upon first use Went to see if my Arcadia Bulb box gave any info...and it doesn't but have been on the arcadia website Marianne Marlow and found this: Fitting a UV-lampAs with captive reptiles, birds also require graduated light, and we recommend fitting your bird’s lighting over roughly a quarter to one third of the total living space of a wire or barred parrot cage. This becomes the ‘basking zone.’ The rest of the enclosure will then have a gradual gradient into shade. Birds know intuitively, just how much exposure to UV-rays they require at any given time and will move around the enclosure to regulate this exposure. If the cage is 1m (3ft) wide I would use a lamp and reflector that is 50cm (18in) long. All you need to do is decide whether the front left or back right is the parrot’s preferred basking zone. Fit the lamp above the cage so that its leads are out of the way of powerful beaks, but close enough for the bird to utilise the light. Ideally the lamp should be fitted no further than 50cm (18in) from the top of the cage. You should also place a perch high in the basking zone so that the bird can sit directly underneath the lamp and as close as is safely possible. You can read more here: www.arcadia-bird.com/uv-lighting/
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Post by Marianne Marlow on May 24, 2015 10:44:47 GMT
Thanks Sam. It's not my first use of the lamp, have had it some years so already did the "burning off" thing. Just forgot how far from the birds it should be and wanted to hear others experiences
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Post by Shirls on May 24, 2015 15:36:01 GMT
Marianne Marlow you do realise that the beneficial light for the birds only lasts a certain amount of time and not the life of the bulb? I spoke to a guy at scarlettsparrotessentials.co.uk where I got my bulb from and he said it would last for 1yr if you had the light on for approximately 5 hrs per day. If you had it on every day it probably would only last 6 months. I have a drawer with several of these bulbs in that still light up, but are not any good for the budgies. Being as I have just renewed one I was amazed at the difference in light for the buds from the old one, which was really past its 'sell by date.' Which just proves they do wear out! Was just thinking Marianne that you may have used all the energy up from this bulb you had stored in the drawer??
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Post by Marianne Marlow on May 24, 2015 15:59:26 GMT
Thanks Shirlsthe bulb is hardly used at all. When I bought it I only used it a couple of times.
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Post by OP on May 24, 2015 16:18:29 GMT
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Post by mintysowner on May 24, 2015 16:29:20 GMT
I cant remember where I read it but it mustn't be too close for buds as they can get a skin cancer from it like we can does that apply for the Arcadia lamp that's sat ON the cage?! Bit worried now.. Sky sits right under it, I wouldn't want her getting skin cancer
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Post by lemonade on May 24, 2015 17:51:20 GMT
I've posted this photo before but can't find it now, but this is what I do with mine Marianne. Its on one of those ikea lamps that have a bendy bit so you can change the aim of the shade. I have mine on a table then pointing over the big cage where they spend most of their time. I don't know if it's too far away or not but I hope they get some kind of benefit. It's on about 3/4 hours a day
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Post by samwiseg on May 24, 2015 19:01:45 GMT
I cant remember where I read it but it mustn't be too close for buds as they can get a skin cancer from it like we can does that apply for the Arcadia lamp that's sat ON the cage?! Bit worried now.. Sky sits right under it, I wouldn't want her getting skin cancer Just as long as it's a safe distance away for a specific safety distance would advise contacting the Arcadia website Am sure Sky is fine
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