UV Lighting concerns?

[June2012]

I know parrots love natural lighting, but how many hours does a bird need? How many hours does a parakeet, to a macaw need? (I think it's different for each different sizes, right?) I've looked into UV lighting. However, there seems to be either over priced avian ones vs. ones for reptiles, but of which I doubt is safe. My bird will be outside for a few hours of the day and the light I will purchase will be for when he or she is inside the cage. When I take him or her out of the cage, how many hours can I take him or her out to not shrivel up and die of vitamin D3 malnutrition? I do not have much outdoor space; only indoor. The bird will be out on my patio with me (on a harness as I don't want him or her clipped) as it's source of full spectrum lighting. With the exception of going on adventures, of course!

Then again, he or she won't be on a patio or on adventures with me 12/7. I also fret because this bird is going to be out of it's cage a LOT. Almost the whole day... >_<

 

[psawiris]

Time to replace a bulb and I thought I would read more about the subject this time. When I did it became quite technical but seems to me an important consideration. I thought if possible I would get an opinion. From what I read even though the bulbs are rated 10000 hours the UVB content is important for the bird and doesn't last the 10000 hours at all. Some of these bulbs are relabeled reptile bulbs that have way too high a UVB content for birds (something like 5% instead of 0.1%). From what I understood this bulb (F40T12 Chroma 50 Fluorescent Lamp - Major Brand - Natural Daylight) might be the best one to get and isn't even for pets - its an office lighting daylight bulb. It supposedly has the right color temperature, CRI, and UVA/UVB ratio. I dunno anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Please check out this thread:
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/35383-lighting-information-birds.html

And if that doesn't answer your question, please check these threads, as this topic has been chewed up and regurgitated too many times to count.

http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/47145-lighting.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/42730-full-spectrum-lighting.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/42216-full-spectrum-lighting.html