Iāve been using the below product for a little over two years now; i use light supplements since I live in Minnesota, and itās way too cold most of our year to bring birds outside. In the late spring and summer and the rare warm fall day, i roll their cages outside for half shade and half direct sunlight.
I havenāt found them to be a waste of my money.
Birds need certain light in order to process vitamin D - sunlight is the best and most natural, but not always accessible for people, especially those living in apartments without a balcony or a patio access. Sunlight through a window, as Jouze mentioned, wonāt cut it, and your bird physically cannot properly process this vitamin without the sunshine (or itās artificial supplement).
I canāt attest to any long term health issues as Iāve only been using them two years, and this is the first Iāve heard of possible problems, but I can share my experience so far: itās made a world of difference, positively. My green cheek conure, Bongo, began to really brighten in her colors and became more playful and interested in her food and toys after her first
day out in sunshine, and it REALLY improved months later when I installed the light. Itās on all day and she has a sleepy cage at night, and she gets out of cage time every day. I set it to one side of her cage so she can choose to be under it or in darker spots; choice is important.
My newly adopted IRN began showing a deeper and richer blue coloration on his tail feathers in just a few days since bringing him home, and his deep green wings became richer looking. Healthy, vibrant plumage is a good sign in parrot health. His yellow under feathers have also gone from being rather updull and drab to being bright and vivid.
and it's free!
