Sun Exposure

[Tami2]

Hi Everyone,

I’m curious as to how you sunbathe your birds.

Now that I’ve let Levi’s flight feather grow in and we have not yet been successful w/ the harness, I struggle with him getting enough sun exposure.

I put him out on a porch or patio in a cage and he hates it.
I know it takes 20 minutes of sun exposure for our body to synthesize “Vit D”, but I’m not sure about birds. I put him out and set a timer for 30 minutes. But, b/c he does laps around the cage he overheats himself and I have to bring him in sooner than I’d like.

So, I’m wondering how some of you go about getting your birds proper sun exposure?


Thank you in advance for your replies.

 

[Laurasea]

Yes!!! Very important,!!! I do filtered shade though, and sit right next to them the whole time. I just came inside after having mine out in their travel cage!!! It's close to a hundred here so I misted them first

 

[Tami2]

I stay w/ Levi also, but he hates it.
How long do you stay out?

It’s sunny here now and not humid, so it’s perfect for getting some rays.

 

[Laurasea]

we did 15 min it was hot!!! And I was under a tree so it was dappled.

 

[texsize]

I have wondered about this topic.
How much good does it really do. Sun on feathers, how can that help?

For most parrots the only skin exposed is the feet(macaws would be one exception).
Not arguing here, just don’t understand.

 

[LaManuka]

I’m led to believe that UV exposure can assist with reduction of bacteria and/or mites in a bird’s feathers and skin. Certainly I see the local butcherbirds and magpies here sunbathe quite a bit - they often stretch themselves out somewhere safe like a window awning or on a roof, lying on their bellies with wings outstretched just catching some rays. Here in Briz Vegas we have the opposite problem, too much sun!

 

[Laurasea]

Parrots have a gland in their eye that absorbs light and and their bidys need sunlight to make vitamin D, when they preen oils from from that gland are spread in featheres, and that substance changes in direct sunlight so the next time they preen they get vitamin D. Exposure to sunlight also kikks germs, even viruses. If you take a picture of your Parrott feathers now, then start exposure to sunlight outside and retake the pictures in a month I think you like me will see a remarkable difference in the featheres! But D helps immunity, bones, eyesight, abd behavior/ mood. Almost everything on Earth evovolved under the sun, and we need it too. There are lots if scientific information on the great google

 

[GaleriaGila]

The Rb is in an Eastern window that offers great sun from sunrise to about 9-10 or so. I can throw the glass up and let him get direct exposure (slightly filtered through a thin screen) from late Spring through early Fall. In the Winter he makes do with sun through the glass. I only wheel the cage outside sparingly in late Spring and early Fall when all the bugs are dead... we are in a very wet area and it's a hotbed for mosquitos, bees, flies, and various other bugs.

 

[Mitchan]

I have an outdoor aviary that they get to spend a couple of hours in most days! (if the weather is terrible we stay indoors... they do love rain though so only if it's really cold too )
When it was still summer here I made sure they got proper shade; a blanket over part of the aviary for full shade, and a couple of big leafy branches all over the top of the aviary for natural shade even in areas that wasn't covered by the blanket. Lots of water bowls placed all over the aviary, and a spray bottle ready all the time (though in an actual overheating situation, soaking their feathers in water isn't recommended as it'll just heat them up more - misting their feet every other minute or so is very good though!)
I'm also always in the aviary with them and can easily keep an eye on them and if I feel like it's unbearably hot I could take them inside again :')

(These days it's soon approaching too cold rather than too hot though lol)

 

[LeslieA]

The birdroom has UV lighting year-round, cafe- style curtains and shares the central cooling/heating system.

Glenn, IRN, lives by himself and has a separate heating and cooling device (similar to hotel rooms). All else is the same.

 

[noodles123]

My bird hasn't adjusted to her harness and she dislikes her travel cage, so I open the patio door and keep her on a perch on the other side of the screen. I also use a full-spectrum light when I am away and she is in her cage. I am not saying my situation is ideal----I wish I could take her out for real.
I have read that windows block a lot of UV rays though (even screens block some)...So I get her as close as I safely can to the real deal.

 

[LeslieA]

I just realized you may not have access to an agri co-op store. "UV lights" are also known as grow lights or plant lights. They provide lightwaves from infrared to ultraviolet and make great reading lights. Both the bulb and tube forms should be available at hardware stores or online.

 

[Tami2]

Thank you all for your replies.
Appreciate it.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

My birds like their travel cages & that’s what I use to take my birds outside. I place the travel cages on my patio and sit near them the whole time. They actually seem to really enjoy the experience.

 

[Tami2]

I put Levi in a larger cage than the travel cage. The one I use when we visit my parents. So, it’s plenty big. I also sit next to him but he hates.
When we are at our cabin in PA I roll that cage out on the porch.
I think it could be that he doesn’t spend much time caged and that’s the problem.

Thank you.