Is it safe if I put my Avian sun light right above my bird cage?

[Gibbey07]

Is it safe if I put my Avian sun light right above my bird cage? or should I put it further away. I have it currently right above their cage is that okay? It's UVB 5. Technically it's not an avian sun light, its a repti sun light, but it is uvb 5.0. Is that okay? or is there a difference.

 

[birdlvr466]

NO reptile lamps for birds!! Please take it down right away! They are not meant for birds and can hurt their eyes. Zoo Med makes a light and lamp made specifically for birds and you need to follow manufacturers directions for safe placement of the lamp. They should be about 12" away from the perch they sit on the most and should be directed downward over the birds cage, not so they can look into the lamp. Featherbrite also makes an avian FS bulb as well as many others but reptile bulbs are not safe for birds period.

 

[GG.]

reptile lights are dangerous to your birds - please turn it off at once - it is better to have nothing than the wrong lighting - until you are able to obtain an avian light

here are a couple of links with good info on avian lighting:

Birds and Lighting Website

http://www.avequip.co.uk/arcadiabird.html

 

[Gibbey07]

kk I turned it off. I'll have to get one of the bird ones. Will the birds be okay?

 

[GG.]

how long did you have it on over the cage?

 

[Gibbey07]

Sorry I had no idea. Those people at petsmart have no idea what they are talking about do they

 

[Gibbey07]

a couple hours

 

[Gibbey07]

they seem alright. Should I call the vet?

 

[GG.]

you only had the reptile light on for a couple hours total? (making sure I understand you)

if so, they will be fine

if you kept your receipt, you can probably return that reptile bulb (tell the store manager that someone sold you the wrong bulb) and get the correct one or your money back

 

[Gibbey07]

well a few days ago I had it on for 3 or 4 hours...and then today I had it on for two...but thats it....I was a little leery of it

 

[GG.]

they should be fine as long as you don't use it any more

 

[Gibbey07]

Thank you!!! That is such a relief. I feel like such a bad bird parent...I worry about them very much because I have never had birds before ever and I'm not sure at all what I am doing.

 

[GG.]

you are not a bad parront! Thanks for asking your question - you and probably many others learned because of it!

 

[Saemma]

Yes.. thank goodness you were wise enough to post about this.

 

[Tamara]

Full-Spectrum Lighting for Birds

I can't believe the lack of knowledge those PetSmart people have sometimes! Drives me nuts!

 

[Gibbey07]

Do you think my birdies will be okay? Should I call my bird vet in the morning?

 

[birdlvr466]

Erin I think they will be fine BUT I would return it and educate the "associates" that sold it to you..I will refrain about saying anymore about these "box" stores that sell live pets.. I think you would notice a problem if something had happened. They would be closing their eyes and not wanting to open them. Luckily you probably had it far enough away and they werent looking into the light. Erin dont beat yourself up. You are here and that is the important thing. You have joined our forum to learn how to better care for you birds so that is a good thing. We were all new bird owners at one time and even we are always learning new things so dont feel bad.

 

[Gibbey07]

Thank you

 

[birdsafe]

What is the temperature of the bulb you were using? Birds can handle temps up to 5500k. Many reptile bulbs are in the same range as bird bulbs, it's the ones that are higher (6000-7500k) that are dangerous. If your light was 5500k or less, then your birds are fine.

 

[JLcribber]

Some of the reptile bulbs are the same as bird bulbs. Just in a different box. I would contact the manufacturer to get the facts about what the bulb really is as well as hard numbers on it.