Parrotlets and Sunlight

[Max and Maya]

I've searched the forums for a preexisting thread and I'm sorry if I missed one.
My parrotlets are in a pretty shady area of the house, also living in Vancouver means its cloudy most of the day in winter so even putting them on my patio wouldn't really help much.
Is it really very necessary for me to get a UV lamp for them for their health? If so are there cheap options, the bird store here has them but they are pricey :(

[Trixie]

Can you supplement it?

[chapala]

Yes, you can supplement Vitamin D, and it is a necessary nutrient where parrots can't be outdoors at least once a week in natural sunshine. Most pellets contain Vit. D, and can be a part of the diet along with fresh foods. They still do better with fairly bright light during the day though, so you may want to get some kind of appropriate bulb for him. The bulb will not work for Vit. D however.

[Max and Maya]

Okay we definately give them pellets and its from a local Avian shop so I'm going to double check the packaging next time i'm in there to make sure it has vitD. Thanks for advice.

[Jinx n Noodle]

I think my guys are happier with the light. I have a double stacker cage and the bottom one is shady/dark most of time. I've noticed Indi and Noodle sunning themselves when the bird light for them is on (it only lights up 1/2 of the cage). I've seen the light stand itself for sale at Menards (I got it from a bird speciality store) for really cheap, though the bulb for the light isn't bad, about $30 from the bird speciality store.

[missie]

Seamus LOVES the sun! I have to be on top of him to make sure he doesn't sit in a spot the will cook him! if would if I let him. :eek:

I have a wrap around porch and in the summer love to take him out on the porch so he can get natural light and hear the natural sounds of birds and all. (I'm in the country) :p The porch of this Old Victorian is great for allowing light, but not sunlight where I put him...close to the wall of the house. He just LOVES it out there. And of course, I'm always right there with him.

Now with winter coming, I'm not sure what to do. Definitely can't go out. I don't want to sit him by the window for fear of a draft.

:confused: :confused: ??????

[jodeg]

My 3 P'lets all have the FeatherBrite full spectrum lights on their cages. Their room doesn't get much sunlight, so these lights are always on, plus if it's a really dark day, the ceiling light is on too.

They really seem to love the lights and are much more active when they're turned on.

[jimpierce]

I have a 4' florescent light fixture with FS tubes in them for lighting. They are far more active with the lights too.

[Max and Maya]

Okay, thanks for the advice, I've moved a desk lamp to over their cage. The packaging doesn't say it provides Vit-D
http://www.roudybush.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=orders.group&group=premium
the daily maintence nibles blend is what i use, if anyone knows if it has it or not. I will ask the woman at the bird store when i get out there next.
Thanks again

[missie]

I think I would be afraid to leave the lamps on for any length of time??

won't it catch fire?? :confused:

[chapala]

Okay, thanks for the advice, I've moved a desk lamp to over their cage. The packaging doesn't say it provides Vit-D
http://www.roudybush.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=orders.group&group=premium
the daily maintence nibles blend is what i use, if anyone knows if it has it or not. I will ask the woman at the bird store when i get out there next.
Thanks again

I'm almost 100% certain that Roudybush pellets do provide Vit. D3, so I think you're fine. And, they are a natural colored pellet without the artificial "fruit" flavor and scent, so that's a plus also. Harrison's is good too, the Lifetime not the high potency.

[Riley]

I woud think that reg light from outside would be good enough. I mean God made these birds i am sure he has supplied their needs. lol If if the sun is not shining you still can get alot of light from being in a room with alot of windows as long as you don't have a draft.

keep us informed of what you decided to do.?? good luck

[Jinx n Noodle]

Sunlight is great and I try to get my birds outside in the sun when possible.

The trouble with light through a window is that it filters out most of the UVB light, which is what the birds need to make Vit D. But if you're supplementing Vit D in the food, you should be fine.

[Riley]

That's good news. What has vit D. Like which foods. Riley just don't seem to be into foods. lol I have tried apple, carrotts, egg. so what food would you all suggest they eat with that vit in it. Does the bird food not have that vit in it. ?? If it don't it should. lol thanks for all the information. this is such a good website and don't take long to get the answers either.

[Max and Maya]

Yea the windows of my apartment building are tinted on top of that, its kinda difficult for me to get them outside since its cold and cloudly in the winter here. Glad to hear though that the pellets are probably covering the Vit D thing, they devour that stuff like its candy.
The lamp has a floresent bulb and is high above the cage. Should be okay, was on in my office for many many hours on end :)

[mom2threekidz]

I was wondering about the lighting myself. We have just a normal lamp next to Zazu's cage, he prefers when it is on, so we try to have it on for him most of the daytime. I wasn't sure if he really needed a special lamp/bulb or not though.

I feed him Roudybush Maintenance Crumble, and in the ingredient list it lists vitamin D3, so I think that is the same as vitamin D, right?

Thanks!!
Amy

[Riley]

I was looking at the papers they gave me at the Pet shop about how to take care of your parrlotlet..Your do's and don't. My paper says to keep them out a draft and don't have them in direct sunlight.

[Tony Bucci]

I've searched the forums for a preexisting thread and I'm sorry if I missed one.
My parrotlets are in a pretty shady area of the house, also living in Vancouver means its cloudy most of the day in winter so even putting them on my patio wouldn't really help much.
Is it really very necessary for me to get a UV lamp for them for their health? If so are there cheap options, the bird store here has them but they are pricey :(

Please check the attachments. You can purchase these "Daylight compact fluorescent lights" and reflector from "Home Depot". Make sure you use "daylight" 5500K. They are "full spectrum" simulating the sun. They don't generate any heath. Each cage in my Bird room has one and plugged in to the small timer.
If you wish to read up on the subject check the websites below.

http://users.net/pthrush/lighting/kinds.html
http:www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww42ev.htm

[Max and Maya]

awesome thanks for the info :) I didn't realize that the daylight bulbs were the same thing as full spectrum

[Tony Bucci]

Aly,
You can use several lights on one timer, because these(daylights) consume very low power. For example, a 60w daylight fluorescent consumes only 14 WATTS of energy for the same amount of light that produces in (800)lumens as the 60w incandescent light bulb does.

Tony

[GRANNYAT50]

We picked up light bulbs that go into regular lights and look somewhat like the energy saving bulb but the are called full spectrum light bulbs but instead of the glass being twisted the bulb looks more like fingers coming down. Its got a kelvin rating of 5000. I too was wondering about the difference of full spectrum lights and daylight lights.

[ParrotletsRock]

I was looking at the papers they gave me at the Pet shop about how to take care of your parrlotlet..Your do's and don't. My paper says to keep them out a draft and don't have them in direct sunlight.


The reason they have to printed to keep them out of direct sunlight is so that you do not stick them in a hot sunny window with no way to escape the sun....that will literally cook the bird to death. When in a sunny window there should ALWAYS be a shady spot in the cage so the bird can chose to sun itself or escape the sun...you can achieve this by putting a towel over one side of the cage .

[Sara!]

I stuck a perch next to the window, so Navi can sun herself if she wants. It's getting colder here now, though, so I might have to get a light.
I still have some UV bulbs left over from my snake, but I don't know if maybe they are too powerful.

[kimekom3]

I know exactly what you mean, I didn't feel so good about spending that amount of money on it either since I have a zoo and a sick dog and cat to deal with vet bills for..
SO what i did is i had an old black light stand thingy(where u put the long bulb into) and i went out, bought a lamp the same size - and it worked! The lamp costed me aroounndd 30$ but the stand itself - where the bulb fits into is what i found to be more expensive...
Black light stands are alot cheaper too, maybe $10-25 v. what i saw in the pet store which was $70+
Good Luck!!!

[mjmalek37]

I want to take our bird outside but am concerned that here in florida right now the temperature difference between the house and outside is quite a bit.... I dont want to stress his system.... is this something to worry about?

[Jinx n Noodle]

Mine have handled temperature changes ranging from 55-85 degrees pretty safely. I just make sure when outside there is some shade to the cage or complete shade and that they have fresh water available.