hates the sunshine

[Cobberthedestroyer]

G'day all I have a maroon belly and he hate bein in the sunshine. Our house has little natural light, a sky light and sliding door but no sunshin in the room Cobber lives in.
We have a cage we take him outside in to get sunshine but while in it he spends all his time hiding from the sun and yelling GETOUT GETOUT.
He has free run of most of the house and only while we are home, we have bright led light globe to keep his cage lit up during the day and they get turned of just after dark so he can go to bed.
I am concered that he isnt getting enough UV because of his fear of the sun.
because he is with me most of the time I am home the other day I even tried sitting him on a perch in my hobby room that was in the sun and he fell off straight away. even if he is on my finger and I hold him in the sun he fly's off.
the cage we take him outside in is portable and has a stand we can roll it around on to any spot in the pergola.
I usually put it half in the sun and then have to move it every half hr so he keeps some of it in the shade. I worry if I put him i the direct sun he might stress out to much. Of coarse he is only outside when the weather is suitable and not to hot.
Was thinking UV lights for his cage could be an option, any ideas or thoughts.
Cheers Lou n Cobber

 

[LaManuka]

Gidday and welcome aboard to you and Cobber!

It’s a better idea to take Cobber outside for some sun rather than UV lights in my opinion. When you do take him outside just make sure he’s not stuck in direct sunlight, rather in dappled light like under a tree for example. Do you have some shadecloth or a vine growing over your pergola? He shouldn’t need a great deal of exposure to benefit, many people also suffer from vitamin D deficiency due to lack of exposure to a bit of sun but it really only takes a few minutes in the morning or late afternoon.

Hope to hear more about your little mate in future!

 

[Flboy]

Remember, shade is rich in UV!

 

[Flboy]

Wanted to add, since parrots are masters at OCD, this may be a learned response! Try having him out when the local flocks are vocal, my JoJo goes nuts, talking back and forth! Bonus, he has learned mocking bird and blue jay!
I still avoid direct sun though!

 

[SailBoat]

Direct Sunlight can be a bit too much for a Parrot that has little experience or bad experience with it.
Lets look at the bad experience point first.
- Being in direct Sun light greatly limits a large part of the sky from viewing. Thus the bird could feel exposed. A bird of prey commonly uses this as a line of attack.
- Having been left in direct Sun light in the past and suffering the effects of extensive overheating, etc...

In their natural range they live in Sun light. A bird taken from such a life style will gravitate to Sun light anytime it is available. The same species born in captivity and kept from Sun light is far less likely to seek it out.

The common method of introducing new things or things with a scary past experience can be overcome by the slow introduction or re-introduction. Time is the foundation of the process. Take as long as is needed by your Parrot.
- Start in a room with Sun light (windows) the majority of the day. Keep your Parrot out of direct Sun light.
- Consider changing the room your Parrot is kept to a Sunny room. Use the dark room for sleeping only.
- Weather permitting, open windows that have screens and allow the indirect (bounce) of Natural Sun light to fill the room.
With time, your Parrot will become ever more comfortable with the wonders of shaded Sun light.

 

[Cobberthedestroyer]

Ok so not sure how to thank you all one at a time so do it this way and hope it works.
Thanks for the replies they all are helpful. Cobber dose love having a good old chatt with the other birds love tellin the to GETOUT and generally gets quite load chating to them. i didnt think the shade was gunna give him enough, i always made sure he had some shade when out there> Makes sence about being unprotected bein out in the full sun.
Thank you again