Sunlight (vitamin D)

[natv]

What do you guys do to ensure you are providing enough sunlight?

I think I need to make a change and looking into some options. Kiwi's cage is adjacent to our sliding glass patio doors, so he gets direct sunlight in part of his cage each day.

However, I've come to learn that sunlight through glass doesn't transmit the beneficial sun rays.

I live in Florida so there's no shortage of sun here, but I am at work most of the day. I could technically take him outside for a bit when I get home in the late afternoon, but there are two reasons why I'm weary of this:

- even though his wings are clipped I've heard stories of some birds still flying away due to help of the wind.

- we get a lot of ducks on our back porch/deck (that poop there) and so I'm afraid he may pick up a disease if/when he jumps down (which he will sometimes)


That leaves me with the option to attach some kind of artificial lighting at the top of his cage (recommendations appreciated here), or - to switch the patio doors around so the side nearest him can open (with a screen though..so again not sure how screens effect the sunlight), and then I could open the door for a bit when I get home so he can get some natural sun.


So just curious how others are handling this and if special lights are the way to go some direction on types and brands. He has a very large corner cage.


Thanks in advance.

 

[psychocircus91]

Have you considered harness training him?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I take Rosie on walks in her aviator harness(free world wode shipping at their web site)and I also just got her an outside cage that she used for the first day today. It worked great, just be sure if you do an outside cage there is always some shade available

 

[natv]

Re: Harness training - haven't really thought about that too much. For one there'd still be the issue with him jumping down and stepping where ducks may have pooped and picking up some disease.

The other thing is that other than when I'm giving him treats or when he walks on my hand/arm when I'm moving him around, he pretty much sees my hands as enemies and wants to bite them so I can't imagine how I'd ever get a harness on him.

 

[ziza]

what about lamp that provides sunlight? i've been considering one...

 

[Chikoo]

In my opinion, a lamp cannot equal unfiltered sunlight. Did you see the thread I just made about this?

Since you live in such a sunny place, why don't you find a way to have a cage for him outside? He can go and play in there for a few hours in the afternoon. Or you can have him start eating in his cage outside.

Taking him out for a little bit once you get home won't really provide him with the degree of sunlight he truly needs. I was even walking my birds daily for about 10mins everyday, but now that they basically live outside, I've noticed a tremendous difference in their feather vibrancy and overall disposition. They seem happier, healthier, and more balanced.

Can you not wheel his cage onto your patio during the day for some time, or even for the whole day? Do you leave him uncaged all day, even when you are not home? I guess I need to know more about your current setup/situation.

Check out this article: http://healthypets.mercola.com/site...t-birds-seriously-need-ultraviolet-light.aspx

 

[natv]

His cage is huge, we had to take down both sliding glass doors to get it into the house

What about an area that is boxed in with 'patio screening'. My husband has been wanting to screen in part of our deck and I've been against it because I like the view without it, but maybe this would be a reason to do it.

A small cage outside that he can hang around in also sounds interesting, but would have to be a separate cage since his main cage is too large to be moved around.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

I have a smaller, portable cage that measures 20x20 [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Hendryx-124PUT-Products-Madison/dp/B00836QKQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367195946&sr=8-1&keywords=Prevue+Pet+Products+Madison+Bird+Cage"]Amazon.com: Prevue Hendryx 124PUT Pet Products Madison Bird Cage, Putty: Pet Supplies[/ame] and every evening I take Molly & Cody outside, in the cage, while they eat their dinner. When it gets too hot I'll take them outside for breakfast.

 

[weco]

I think Molly's idea of a smaller cage is the best choice if you're going to be around.....there is a lot of contentious discussion on artificial sunlight lights and there is some information I've posted in an earlier thread......personally I do not believe what is sold as avian full spectrum lighting delivers what you think you are buying.....

If you are not going to sit and watch your bird while outside, you will need an outdoor cage that will protect your feathered friend from cats, dogs, hawks & eagles.....I'd include snakes, but you would need to be there to provide snake protection.....

I invite you to read these threads & as much of the included links as you wish, before wasting your money on something that does not do what you think it will do.....

http://www.parrotforums.com/general...l-spectrum-lighting-do-you-want-part-1-a.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general...l-spectrum-lighting-do-you-want-part-2-a.html

There are also several other threads on this lighting topic that you may want to read:

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/29819-full-spectrum-question.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/29150-uvb-lighting-2.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/28405-uvb-lighting.html

There are other forum threads on artificial lighting...just do s forum search for lighting & it will bring them up for you.....

You can also switch your doors, but carefully look at the doors before you try switching them, because on some brands of these doors, the static door (non-movable) is larger than the movable door & they do not lend themselves to swapping side for side...also make sure the tracks are switchable.....

Normal bug/fly screen does cut 30%-40% of direct sunlight, however enough passes to provide ample sun to your bird(s).....if you have hawks and/or eagles in your area, there is the possibility you could find your bird(s) inviting an unwanted guest to come visiting.....a the wife of a member of another bird group had her patio door open and a large hawk flew through the screen, into their den, tried to grab their bird, but only got feathers.....by the time she got her wits together & grabbed a broom, the hawk was shaking off its daze & headed for the torn screen.....

 

[Chikoo]

Yeah, a screened in deck is a great idea. Or, you can get a separate smaller cage just for outside!

 

[Greenwing]

I would stay away from the bulbs... They really don't put out much useable UV light...I also live in the sunshine state and have a screened pool house ..I leave my birds out there all day..(supervised under the insulated roof for shade and protection from the rain.. ) and even on the cloudiest day with super screen and in the shade of the solid insulated roof.. I still get a uvb reading almost three times what the bulb puts out a 16 inches.( disclaimer:- Im not sure how much of it is reflected off the pool water and the white pool deck..)..

And as Weco stated earlier.. The screen does cut down quite a bit of useable UV rays .. But it's still quite a bit more than the bulbs...

 

[natv]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I've rules out lights since the general consensus is they are not very effective.

Since 5-10 minutes of sun per day sounds like enough , I'm going to try just rolling his play stand over to the sliding glass door with the screen on each afternoon and try to judge if he's getting enough sun that way, if so that should work and also this way he won't get too hot as he'll still benefit from the air conditioning (and 10 with door open shouldn't be a huge problem with hot air coming in and warning the house.

Worst case I'll get an outside cage.

Thanks again

 

[drlisaort]

What a great question! I too live in Florida and work during the day (four days out of seven) and the sun doesn't reach my patio until I'm long gone. I do sit with Oliver outside three days out of seven for about 15 to 20 minutes. I've read so many different views. Some say 15 minutes a few times a week is adequate. I power walk or cycle every morning and thought it would be great to bring Oliver with to get his sun but I can't figure out how to attach him to my bike or back! I fear a harness (which I'm not sure I could even get on him) would be dangerous if he got tangled up in it....

 

[natv]

Oh wow... wouldn't it be awesome to attach some kind of enclosure (a small, light cage of some kind) to the front of the bike so I can ride with him and he can feel the wind... hmm... would have to be big enough for wingspan though.. lol