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Post by Learner on Nov 4, 2013 0:13:38 GMT
.....on this little concern of mine, please?
Dark, dismal winter is on its way here.
My lot make their own way into their inside flight as the evening draws in and they settle to roost without me having to chase them in. Such a relief - I thought I'd have to do some persuading every evening.. so far they've not let me down once.
But
Now that it's November it seems to be dark soon after 5pm and not properly light again until around 6:30 in the morning. That seems a very long time to be sat sitting on a perch waiting for breakfast.
I have a very tiny LED night light that shines through the dark hours and a small 6W energy saver light that comes on about a couple of hours before sun up. I thought my lot could have breakfast early if they chose and then be ready for the day as the temperatures warm.
Do any of you provide additional light for your birds to reduced the number of lightless hours in winter?
If so how many hours of lighting do you give and how?
Advice would be appreciated.
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Post by starlingqueen on Nov 4, 2013 0:42:24 GMT
I have an indoor aviary and have a daylight bulb on from 8am to 9pm and a night light for the rest of the time. I don't think the nights are as long as ours in their native country.
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Post by birdguhl on Nov 4, 2013 8:11:48 GMT
What kind of bulb do you use, SQ? Last year I bought a bulb similar to this www.scarlettsparrotessentials.co.uk/arcadia_screw_uv_bulb and am due to replace. Quite pricey but if it benefits the buds it is a lot cheaper than vets bills. I am not really clear about the different between full spectrum, daylight bulbs and UV bulbs, except price. The flicker factor is mentioned in the blurb about this one. Would be good to have some chat on this subject! |
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Post by phoebe on Nov 4, 2013 21:31:45 GMT
I have two high spectrum bulbs for growing plants in my bird room plus a lamp. I want to get one of these lamps for each cage. www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5059+5690+24615&pcatid=24615 I looked around the stores here and bird lighting is impossible to find so this is why I purchased this lamp because I can get it online. The bulb is expensive though. I've heard of people who's birds lost a line of plumage on the back from intense lighting. This lamp does not cause this problem. |
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Post by Learner on Nov 4, 2013 21:45:53 GMT
I thought the lamp price reasonable and the low wattage good (cheaper to run).
My concern remains: how many hours artificial light to provide to extend their day and allow them to feed in colder weather.
Perhaps others don't have to do this - although I am sure there are some UK budgie owners who keep their birds in outside aviaries.
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Post by starlingqueen on Nov 5, 2013 0:13:36 GMT
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Post by phoebe on Nov 5, 2013 13:46:49 GMT
I thought the lamp price reasonable and the low wattage good (cheaper to run). My concern remains: how many hours artificial light to provide to extend their day and allow them to feed in colder weather. Perhaps others don't have to do this - although I am sure there are some UK budgie owners who keep their birds in outside aviaries. I'm not sure the number of hours but after hearing that some birds get burned and lose a line of feathers down their backs I think you are wise to wait for the answer from someone who knows. My lamp stays on all day and I have no problem with it possibly because of the size of the cage. I am not sure I would leave it on all day if they could not move away from it. |
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Jul 9, 2013 20:11:41 GMT
barzey
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 10 
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Post by barzey on Nov 10, 2013 21:31:31 GMT
I have been using just a plain L.E.D Nightlight that automatically comes on at Dusk and off at Dawn mainly to help trying to avoid night frights for them. But as you realise the nights are just that little bit too long really at this time of the year.
So I recently invested in one of those Automatic Light Dimmers from a place called 'The Birdroom' for £128-95 delivered. It was the 'Bulblux 400' which slowly comes on at the time you set over 30 mins and later at whatever time you set it takes 30 mins to dim down again and I have set it to come on at 06:15 until 08:15 then later in the day to come on at 16:15 until 20:30. You can set it to come on and off at other times throughout the day. (I believe their are about 8 separate setting available) There are other options that can be added to the Dimmer at the time of ordering if you want them.
It is a nice piece of equipment, well designed and extremely durable I should think (Only got it last month). Expensive yes, but I believe well worth the investment (Let friends & relatives know you have a fund box as its coming up for xmas). It came through extremely well packed within 3 days and I am well pleased with it. I hope this helps in some way
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Post by stace on Nov 11, 2013 1:39:34 GMT
Hi Learner. I don't have an aviary, so I can't give you advice specific to that.
However, it might help you to know that Australian winter nights can be quite long, depending on where you are. In Sydney winters, it can get dark at 5pm and then not light again till 7am.
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Post by moonkira *Julie * on Nov 11, 2013 9:07:20 GMT
Mine have an ordinary house bulb on all day which is in the shed but not in the actual aviary so the buds can`t touch it , I leave that on till around 9- 9.30pm then I put the blue pygmy bulb on through the night incase of nigh fright .
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Post by samwiseg on Nov 11, 2013 10:14:46 GMT
As birdguhl has, we have an Arcadia light bulb as this promotes the buds to produce vitamin D in dark daylight hours. It is like one of those SAD bulbs but the highest value for birds, parakeets etc etc. If I remember correctly 5 hours is enough for domestic birds to produce enough vit D to remain in tip top condition. However, for breeding purposes I am not so sure. For any further info you may wish to look here  |
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Post by ffiscool on Nov 11, 2013 14:31:56 GMT
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Post by starlingqueen on Nov 11, 2013 15:03:41 GMT
You would need a ceramic holder as the bulbs get very hot and melt the normal plastic type. |
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Post by ffiscool on Nov 11, 2013 15:14:40 GMT
ah right, thank you
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Post by phoebe on Nov 11, 2013 16:40:32 GMT
You would need a ceramic holder as the bulbs get very hot and melt the normal plastic type. I got a ceramic bulb holder at my pet shop, they sell them for heat lamps (made for lizards). |
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