is a heat lamp a good or bad idea??

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

Hey everyone,

Alright so let me know what you think...
my parents got this big red heat lamp to connect to the side of our parrotlets cage to keep them warm. Lately we put them in the small pettaxi that the breeder shipped them in to sleep and put a blanket over them because we're afraid they'll get cold. And they think since they're in the corner cuddled up they're automatically cold. But dont they do that anyways?
But now we have this red heat lamp connected to the side and I'm worried they could get to warm? Them getting to warm isnt a huge concern because its not like deadly hot. But I'm worried they wont be able to sleep with this big light shinning on them?
Does anyone else use a lamp while they're still young?
Mine are only six weeks.
Let me know what you think, thanks!!

:)

[Jinx n Noodle]

I never had them that young, somehow I manage to get older ones. Anyway, I think if there aren't any drafts, they should be fine without the heat lamp. Otherwise, the heat lamps shouldn't cover the whole cage anyway, only a small portion of it, so they can get away from the heat if it gets too hot.

Either way, my pair of p'lets always cuddle at night too. Actually, they're usually cuddling if they're not doing anything else.

[caraliz1]

Sarah- I know when my Zach was sick, my vet told me to keep his cage at a higher temp then usual because their bodies are working to fight the infection and would not be able to maintain their own body heat at the same time. As far as every day life, my Zach does have a lamp but its not a heat lamp. It is just a full spectrum UV lamp that helps simulate natural light. I'm still in the learning process too but I'm pretty sure there is no need to keep their cages warm like one would for a reptile. In the wild, they wouldn't be living in hot hot climates year round. They would have seasons just like we do. SO, all that being said, I keep my apartment around 74 and Zach is perfectly fine.

[jodeg]

I don't think a heat lamp is necessary. None of mine have them, and we turn the heat down at night. They do just fine. It gets cold here during the winter too (outside of course!).

All three do have FeatherBrite full spectrum lights on top of their cages, since I think their room isn't bright enough. Also, during the winter, we have lots of dark and gloomy days, so the light helps. The full spectrum light doesn't give off any heat.

[enborgle]

Good advice here, there is really no reason for a heat lamp unless the birds are very young or ill. Mine are also big cuddlers (when they're not eating, lol). A full-spectrum light, however, can be beneficial to have around all the time because it helps them synthesize Vitamin D in the absence of natural unfiltered sunlight.

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

yeah they're not ill or anything. And its to bright, they cant sleep with it on.
So we're not going to use it...my parents have to realize not all birds are the same.
if something works for a baby duck doesnt mean it'll work for a baby parrot lol
Yours sounds cool though enborgle :)
is it really bright though?

[enborgle]

Yep, it's totally different from the other lamps in my house - sort of the same kind of light you might see in an aquarium, but made specifically for birds, if that makes sense? I figure they aren't in bright noontime sunlight all day in the wild, so I just set it to come on for an hour or two midday during the summer months and a little longer in the winter. We do have a heat lamp for the rescue birds who come in very stressed out and it's a handy thing to have around in your first aid kit, but I've never needed it for my own flock, knock on wood!

Your birds are so lucky that their new owner is this interested in doing so much research to keep them happy and comfortable :)

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

Aww well thanks :)
they're not THAT lucky if they were really lucky then I'd already know it all :P
I think they're getting comfortable though. I just want them to get happy and be comfortable with me.
The males getting nicer though :)
He'll let me pet behind his ear and stuff :)

but that lamp sounds really nice! I dont think we need one though...
thats cool you rescue birds though :)

[Jinx n Noodle]

Oh yes, I didn't realize your parents raised ducks before. Ducks are definitely different than parrots :) My family used to raise chickens, ducks, and quails, and they needed the heat lamp when they were young.

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

yeah well now my parents are demanding that we use it because we talked to some breeder out of Denver and hes claiming if the temperature drops below 70 then they'll drop dead.
Which Idk if I believe that. I know they need to stay warm but I dont think a bright red light shinning in their eyes all night is good either.
They need 12 hours of darkness...
idk, I guess I cant do anything about it since they talked to that guy.

[caraliz1]

They will by NO means drop dead if the temperature goes below 70. That's just silly.

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

I know!!
thats what I said.
I mean it'd be good to stay above 70...to keep the comfortable.
but isn't a big light shinning in their faces worse? lol
we're wanting to get a happy hut so that they can sleep in it and still stay warm but get away from the bright light.
This is an example of one:
http://www.kornnuts.com/imagehost/2713a690b8ea.jpg

[caraliz1]

As long as you can get a lamp that shines from about a foot above the cage, they should be fine. My lamp isn't for heating purposes so if you feel like they're cold, you could simply put a blanket over them at night so they don't get wind drafts. My Zach has a "log house" that is supposed to look like a tree chunk with a hole in it. It seems like the ideal place to sleep in his cage but her perches right beside the little cloth butterfly that is on the side of the house. So, if you get yours a hut, don't be upset if they choose somewhere else. Parrotlet have been known to sleep in really strange places/positions.

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

yeah it's not a foot above.
I'm not sure how we could put it a foot above, its attached to the side of it.
idk, if they can sleep I guess its not a big deal but hopefully if we do get the happy hut they'll sleep in it :)

and ha ha yeah, they dont sleep on a perch or anything, they sleep on a rope that wraps up from the bottom of the cage to the top.
Which is right under where we put the lamp (they slept there before we got the light though) but I suppose if the light bothered them they'd try to get away from the light?

Awww your Zach sounds very cute :)

[Jinx n Noodle]

wow, my birds would be all dead then :) since the temperature in the bird room has gone down as low as 52 degrees in the winter.

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

yeah...idk the guy that they talked to was "So nice!!" but he's said a lot of things that dont makes sense to me.
Like my birds probably hate each other when they get older and try to kill each other lol.
Which is possible but not likely and he said that they HAVE to have millet all the time for energy and lada lada.
idk, he seemed like he knew what he was talking about but it wasn't based on fact, you know?
now my parents wont listen to anything I say...Ugh, lol

[Jinx n Noodle]

Why don't you have your parents join the forum... maybe that'll help. There are plenty of breeders on the board too if they feel like they want to talk to somebody with "experience".

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

yeah I wouldn't count on that...
lol
my mom uses the internet but my dad not so much, but shes not really the type of person to come into something like this :P

Your from Minnesota Jinx?
like ALL my relatives live up there! :P

[Jinx n Noodle]

Yup, Minnesota born and bred :)

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

nice!
I dont like Minnesota to much...its so cold and flat...ha ha
and in the summer its SO hot and humid...
I think we're going up there in June though to visit some family :)

Do you live in the north or south?
my families closer to the south about an hour from Rodchester...I think thats what its called? lol
Anymore north in the winter I think I'd die lol

I'm from the rockies, I'm used to a ton of snow just not the bone piercing cold....
lol

not trying to bash it or anything (I give everyone I know crap who are from Minnesota about this stuff :P), there are some places that are pretty cool :)

[Jinx n Noodle]

Ah, I like Minnesota just fine, don't worry about it. My cousins are from CA and one trip to MN in the winter and they swore to never come back! It's true that the weather can be extreme, hot and humid in the summer and cold in the winter, but I do like the weather changes.

I live in the Twin cities, so definitely north, but about 1-2 hours.

[Sarah's_Parrotlets:)]

Well I'm glad you like it :)

Wow, that north? thats intense, see we have drastic weather changes (80-100 in the summer and then 30 and under in the winter and get at least three feet of snow at one point) but yours is a little much for me :P
I went there in the spring even and almost died :P

I suppose once your used to it, it wouldn't be to bad though :P
I'm glad you like it! :D