Full spectrum lighting help!

[Howldaloom]

I would like to put a full spectrum light bulb in my bird room but i have no idea on wattage.

I saw on lady gouldian finch website that their bulbs are only 15w http://www.finchniche.com/product_feath ... -bulbs.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But i saw this buln online in the uk and wondered if this is too strong? http://www.amazon.co.uk/iBoutique-Bayon ... 778&sr=1-4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Does the wattage matter?

[Howldaloom]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecozone-Biobulb ... =8-3-fkmr0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or this one?

[Danny]

It depend on where you are placing it as to whether the wattage is too high but I suspect if you are lighting a whole room then go the largest you can afford. My knowledge of UV is mainly reptile based but the concept is the same. A bird requires X amount of UV eposure per square cm per day to achieve their metabolic needs. Lets say X = 300 units per square cm per day. If the output is 50 units then the bird will need to be exposed for 6 hours to achieve its needs whereas if the output is 150 units then 2 hours exposure is adequate. Any excess will be used if needed, 'ignored' if not (feedback mechanisms prevent them using too much). In a bird room situation, the intensity never changes so the only limitation will be shadowing by cages above etc.
There is quite a lot of good info in the support section (look at downloads and FAQ) of http://www.arcadia-uk.info/product.php? ... =11&lan=en
One thing that makes a huge difference is a reflector - it will turn a 15 w into a 30 w as all the upward directed lost light is now directed downwards. If you have a double lamp fitting with a reflector you will get 3 x the output of 1 lamp.

Hope this helps.

[Myzomela]

As well as Danny's excellent advice another issue to consider is the distance of the lightsource to the birds.
If you just have a full spectrum flourescent fitting in the middle of the room then you are wasting your time if you think this will provide the required amount of UV light to your birds.
The UV penetration of most globes is usually less than 60 cm ( 2 feet) so you need to bear this in mind when positioning globes.

[Howldaloom]

Im getting tired of having to fight my way onto this forum. It takes AGES to load! So please dont think me rude if i dont reply straight away lol.

The bulb in my birdroom is rubbish. I can hardily see what im doing. So i would like a ful spectrum bulb to help with that as well as my SAD in the winter.
I would like a bulb the birds MAY benefit from.

I understand they may not get the uv effect which is why i will continue to supplement. Will a bulb effect the way they see though? Colour temperture.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/iBoutique-Bayon ... 967&sr=8-2 Would this bulb inparticular be too strong for my birds eyes? If not then i will buy it for my own needs. I would have thought the colour side of it will at least benefit my birds?

[Myzomela]

A 150 W globe is fairly strong but it really depends on the size of your birdroom and how reflective the walls are. You can only try it and see. It would also help if you can give the birds ther opportunity to hide from the light if it is too strong.

As for the "full spectrum" benefits, normally I would say that if you just want illumination in your birdroom then just go for a normal flourescent light globe, mainly because the full-spectrum ones are much more expensive. However at that price it hardly matters.
There are huge differences in the quality of full spectrum lights and those suitable for fish, reptiles, birds and plants all have different wavelength outputs.

To keep it simple just try it, but don't rely on it to provide the UVB output the birds will need for vitamin D3 synthesis.

[Howldaloom]

I read today somewhere that birds should not have anything above 5500kelvins. Is that true?