Lighting is something that most people don’t think about when they buy a bird. However, it is vital to birds’ well-being and health. There are many factors to consider.
Birds require sunlight
Natural sunlight is essential for Vitamin D production and hormone balance. It also helps birds maintain their organ, skin, and feather health. Although we can mimic natural sunlight in captivity, it is impossible to replace the real thing. For adequate Vitamin D production, you should give your bird at least 30 minutes of direct sun exposure each week. However, the more the better. This can be done by creating an aviary or training your bird so that she can load into a carrier or travel cage and go outside on walks or simply hanging out in your yard.
If there are no predatory raptors in your area such as hawks and eagles, and your bird is very well-remembered, you may be able to take it outside without having to put any enclosure. Be aware that if you do this, there is a high chance of your bird being carried away by birds of prey or strong winds.
If taking your bird outside is not possible due to extreme temperatures, incomplete training, or insufficient food, ensure that your bird has enough Vitamin D. However, this will not help their physical health. Because window glass blocks out ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is necessary for vitamin synthesis, hormone production, and organ function.
Birds can use indoor full spectrum lights
Birds can see more of the spectrum than us (they are able to see ultraviolet light), and they also see light much faster than us. Our brains see light as solid when it hits our eyes in waves. Birds perceive light faster than us, so the waves must be faster to appear solid to them. The regular light bulbs in our homes that give off light are flickering to birds, even though they appear to emit solid light. Imagine living in a world with flickering light bulbs. It’s so annoying! How disorienting! It’s so disorienting! It’s not surprising that birds get cranky and agitated so often.
The Color Rendering Index is a measurement that measures the speed at which light waves are emitted from a lightbulb. The CRI (Color Rendering Index) is the measurement that indicates how fast light waves are traveling through a room. Birds begin to perceive light as solid when they reach a CRI level of 91. Therefore, the CRI for the bulbs in your home where your bird will be living or visiting must be at least 91. While most full-spectrum (FS), light bulbs will meet this minimum requirement, you can find photography light bulbs that have a CRI of 91 or more at a lower price than FS bulbs.
Another thing to note about FS bulbs is that they are not a substitute for natural sunlight. Further research has shown that these bulbs only emit UV rays about 18 inches from their bulb. However, keeping them too close to birds’ cages can cause corneal scarring. The bulbs don’t produce UVB for more than six months so they don’t provide the benefits that they claim. They are still useful for birds as replacements for regular bulbs. They allow them to see all colors and can be used in solid light rather than flickering.