Full spectrum lighting

[Tro]

Hello everyone
I have a question on full spectrum lighting.
I take my bird outside everyday for at least 30 mins. this works out good for me and my GCC (Tak) because the temp is rarely above 75 degrees F and not below 65 degrees F when I bring him out for his daily dose of vitamin D. The problem is I live in AK and summer isn't going to last for very much longer. During the winter time taking Tak outside would be out of the question because the temperature for most of the winter is around -20 degrees F aside from that there's only a few hours of sunlight a day anyway.
I'm looking into buying a full spectrum light for the winter months. I want to make sure it will be the next best thing to the sun itself and expose Tak to enough light to be happy and healthy all winter long. I heard or read somewhere ( I cant remember where) that if the lighting isn't bright enough to give you sun burn then it does the bird no good. So I'm looking for a little insight on full spectrum lighting for birds. I've been looking into the zoo med avian sun full spectrum lighting and also at featherbrite full spectrum lighting if anyone is familiar with these or has had other experience with any full spectrum lighting and can give me some feed back on what you think of them that would be great! Thanks

[Michael]

Nothing is better than the sun itself. Even the very best lights are questionable. I visited someone who has a lot of birds and a lot of the expensive (honestly don't remember the exact brand) of full spectrum lights meant for birds. Yet I could immediately see a difference in the eye color of my Senegal Parrot and hers. Hers look like they've never been exposed to sunlight (which is the case) while I take mine outside regularly to get real sunlight. So if the eye color is affected by sunlight and it hasn't changed with 12 hours a day of that special lighting... you see my point.

Last winter I managed to get the birds a few times during the winter. We had some days at or above freezing but really sunny. Some were as high as 40-50 so I definitely took them out. But even in the upper 30s if its brief I can get them out for a bit of sun. For the first 5-10 minutes it's just residual body head from being indoors. But what I do is let them snuggle under my jacket with just their head sticking out. Apparently they absorb most of their sunlight through the head and feat so having their ceres, beak, and eyes exposed must be good. In intense sunlight, 30 degrees doesn't feel as cold. Getting one day a month like this is far from perfect but I bet better than even the best lights.

Another option is taking the birds on vacation down to southern states (roadtrip!). Take them for a drive to some place not necessarily warm but warm enough that they can be out. Be good for the birds and probably you too!

You can try the lights and it probably can't hurt but in all my experience, nothing comes close to even brief encounters with the real sun.

[Tro]

Thanks, that helps out a lot. I will take your advise and get him outside as many days as possible during the winter. Thanks again!

[DustyTheGrey]

I actually spoke to my avian vet about this, he is the vet on call at the national zoo in Pretoria and because he as access to the fancy zoo equipment he knows a lot about the lighting they use there.
Basically he told me that there is not much on the market for private parrot owners to buy that comes close to 10 mins in the sun for your bird.
Some of the lights at the zoo cost thousands of rands (R), but even those he finds questionable.

I think its just best taking your parrot outside every day.
Think of it this way, not only are you taking care of the health of your bird, but you are also spending time with him, and exposing him to an exciting environment each day. You are enriching his life in more ways than one. Its worth the time outside.