Avian Lamps

[Alyse]

What do you guys think about avian lights? I was looking at the Zoo Med AvianSun Deluxe floor lamp(if someone wants to look it up and tell me what they think of that one). Do they make much of a difference? would it be a good investment? If I got it, how often and for how long should I keep it on? Would you recommend a different light? Any input would be helpful.

[musicjan]

Hi Alyse, did you get your parrotlet there in Mankato? I talked to the breeders there when I was birdie shopping.

[Pado]

The full spectrum lighting didn’t work out too well for me :(

I purchased one some months back and threw my male P’let out of whack [for lack of a better term]

In a matter of weeks he turned from this sweet bird who always wanted to interact into one that over-bonded with a toy and didn’t want to come out of his cage – he started becoming cage aggressive and favorite ‘toy’ aggressive.

From a very nice lady on another forum I found out I had inadvertently threw him out of whack by altering his lighting patterns. They have a gland in their head that is triggered by the natural lighting of the seasons –

The GRADUAL longer days of spring tells them its breeding season and to prepare for it –
But I, by having a bright light just ‘POP’ on and “POP off at different times of the day threw this gland out of whack and in turn I got a bird that was out of whack.

I removed the full spectrum light and let him wake and go to sleep with the Sun and in just another few weeks he started coming back to his old self – I introduced a female bird after I removed the light which I’m sure had something to do with him grounding himself also but it all started with the full spectrum lighting.

I’ve decided to just put them outside and/or put them next to an open window for their Sun.

This is just my experience – Hopefully others will give their views :)

[Alyse]

Pado- That's a very good point that I didn't think of. I don't think I'll be getting one for that reason! Thank you!

Musicjan- I was going to go through the Mankato Blue Earth Aviary, but I decided against it because although they were very nice, they seemed to be taking on a little more than they could handle at the time, breeding wise (too many birds at once) and were having a lot of trouble with their breeders and eggs. I am actually getting Allie from a wonderful breeder in Kenyon, MN by Rochester. She breeds many bird species, but her parrotlets looked great and had a lot of good references so I went with her instead. Where did you get Bitsy Jo?

[musicjan]

Hi Alyse -- two Bitsys' here - mine is Bitsy Blue. Memmey's is Bitsy Jo - just so you don't stay confused. I actually had a deposit down with Blue Earth, then they ended up not having a baby for me after all. It was very disappointing. I got mine from a breeder in Maple Grove, MN. I've been very pleased with everything except for the initial wing clipping. But they are great people, and even offered to keep Bitsy for us when we've been out of town twice. I searched and searched - back months ago - and never did come across the Kenyon folks.

[musicjan]

Alyse, also Blue Earth - after not having enough males to go around - raised their price for males by $60 - that didn't impress me.

[Sally]

I don't know about any other lighting, but I have a FeatherBrite lamp. It works wonderfully. I use it for about two or three hours in the morning. She sits up and seems to enjoy it very much. Her feathers are gorgeous. I never get used to how pretty she is. Lighting and her food are working very well for her. I work hard cooking and feeding her many things.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/Sally11/41059Queen_Chipper_resized.jpg

[ArtS]

Pado,

Invite the nice lady that gave you the advice to our forum.

Regards,

Art S.

[memmey]

Do you think we could get Sandee Molenda here, we couldn't be that lucky. Maybe we could bribe her with money or our first born children or the deeds to our houses. She had forgotten more than we know.LOL

Wait isn't that who Pado got his baby from!!!!!!!

[Pado]

Memmey, Yep, Sandee was Mrs. Peeper’s breeder –

Art, The lady who I got all the advice from I noticed see she was on this board at one time – Cindy215 – and she mentioned you when she was giving me advice, she talked about your cage and you having your birds for 8+ years :)

[ArtS]

Pado,

I'm sure she said some other, darker, things... :D Hopefully, she will post here some more.

By the way, I use a color balanced florecent that I got at Home Depot mounted in a desk lamp. The birds have not grown but they are pretty green :D ;) .

Regards,

Art S.

[memmey]

You need to stop......lol

[Mygft2give]

I leave Casamir's light on 12 hours a day and he is about 2-3 feet from it.
Could this be harming him? That's what the avian pet store owner told me to do but Chipper is really pretty. Maybe it's too much light??

[Sally]

Well, I just think a few hours may be enough. I am not sure anyone knows for sure. I just read that little birds need less. It works for us.