Happy summer solstice!

[Pajarita]

Today is the longest day of the year. It might not mean much to many people but it makes a big difference for us, bird keepers, because of birds photoperiodism. From tomorrow on, the days will start getting shorter and, after a couple of weeks (when the difference in daylight hours is 20 minutes less), the birds' bodies will register it and start reacting to the change. Long day breeders will start reducing the amount of sexual hormones produced and will start preparing for molt while short day breeders will 'squeeze' one more clutch.

Diet should continue to be richer until almost the end of molting for long day breeders and until the 'fall' breeding season is over for short day breeders.

[Chantilly]

Wow, very interesting! I did not know the affect this has on our birds, thankyou for sharing this Paj

[Pajarita]

Oh, yes, light, its quality and duration, is ALL important to birds! It's not only because their entire endocrine system works based on light but also because they are the most visually-dependent animals of ALL the vertebrate species.

[Chantilly]

Thankyou, I did not know that they are the most visually dependant, very very interesting!

[ParrotsForLife]

Does that mean Rocko and Loki will be less likely to breed? Im getting the nestbox today and a few other bits and pieces I have left to get.

[Chantilly]

Out of curiosity-when you say breed do you mean lay eggs, or actually hatch chicks?

[Pajarita]

By the way, Chantilly, you are in the Southern Hemisphere so your summer solstice (the longest day) happens in December. June is for your winter solstice (the shortest day).

[ParrotsForLife]

Out of curiosity-when you say breed do you mean lay eggs, or actually hatch chicks?

Well both lol in order to hatch chicks she has to lay eggs right.

[Pajarita]

So what you are saying is that you are planning on breeding your birds?

[ParrotsForLife]

So what you are saying is that you are planning on breeding your birds?

Yes as you saw in my other thread