Best UV light setup?

[mizithra]

If you use some sort of UV/Full-spectrum light set-up with your birds, what do you use specifically? (length of time per day, type of fixture and bulb) Have you noticed any improvement/change in behavior, feather condition, etc? I suspect the vast majority of grey owners don't mess with it and their birds do fine; also heard that it's a near necessity. Also worried that most so-called "avian UV bulbs" are really re-purposed reptile lights and are much too strong for close proximity use.

What's your experience?

 

[ann]

I'm sorry i cant be of much help, but in my opinion it isn't necessary. As long as they get some sunlight every day, i think they're OK. To get the full spectrum, you have to go outside, just be sure he is wearing a harness because clipped wings aren't enough.

 

[cdog]

They need to have a min of 6 hours of UVA/UVB rays everyday. So if you can take your bird outside everyday for 6 hours, great, if not then you need a bulb. And just an extra piece of info, windows actually filter out the rays so putting them by a window inst enough.
They need the rays for vitD, if they don't have the rays then their feather coloration goes weird and they get sick.

 

[Rio Mom]

Both my birds have full spectrum lights above their cages that are on for 6 hours a day. Pepper's bulb is in a clip on desk lamp. I have a hook in the wall behind the cage to pull the cord across and through to keep it away from her. River has one of these Featherbrite Captial Universal Cagetop Light - FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING by MY SAFE BIRD STORE I would like to get Pepper one at some time, I like that the legs have little hooks on the end that I can hang toys from.

Just wondering? Why would you think grey owners wouldn't use one?