Finding lighting for my birds(button quail) - help!

[CatJane0x0]

I'm not sure if I have the proper lighting currently.

I have been trying to figure out what type of bulbs to buy for my buttons...
I've seen Otto-lites...are those any good? What do you guys use??
I've found a few regular bulbs online meant to treat SAD -- those would work, right?

Some of these lights are pricey and I was wondering if there is a difference.


Any help would be great!

 

[JJMR794]

Light For What Purpose?

 

[CatJane0x0]

I wanted to have some artificial lighting to make them happy. I have read in a few places to use a fluorescent light with a CRI of at least 90. I plan to get them a black light as well...that idea came from A Closer Look At "Button Quail". I was just wondering if there is a particular brand that is ideal to buy or if just any will do. I never thought I'd get confused over light bulbs, lol

I try to keep decent natural lighting for them, but don't have much way to take them all in and out each day for the best of it.
I live in a cold winter area and would be too scared of predators to keep them outdoors anyhow.

 

[shelleyd2008]

When mine need more light I just turn the overhead light (probably 60 watt) on in their room

 

[CatJane0x0]

I think a mixture of a few things would make me settle aside from punching a giant hole into the wall and putting screen over it, lol
Wish my bird room had more windows.

I found this a few minutes ago --

http://www.topbulb.com/find/Product_Description.asp_Q_intProductID_E_50961

98 CRI

I think I'll get one or two of those maybe. I personally hate bright lights and sometimes the sun itself, but worry about these darn buttons getting the right amount of lighting!

 

[Stellar]

Artificial lighting is used if you want to continue breeding your birds. Jodi explains the lighting in detail but a 60 watt bulb in the room will suffice.

ETA: Happy birds can be given treats, quiet, mates, etc as well.

 

[Robo]

I would throw up some Christmas lights like JJ.

 

[Rozzie]

I think she's probably been reading about full spectrum lights, UVA, UVB, etc. I have turtles so have to have both heat & uva/uvb lights over them. Otherwise, they get metabolic bone disease (if I'm remembering correctly). Part of it is a Vitamin D issue, but there are other factors that I can't recall right now (it's been a while since I read about this).

I know that in my case, I've wondered about my birds' lighting needs, too. After all, my birds are inside. Some have indirect sunlight, but otherwise, they all just get artificial light.

I was doing a little reading today about caged birds and their light needs but still haven't come to a conclusion about what is needed for long term health for birds kept indoors.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I use lights for my buttons...not to make them lay, but to keep them warm!! I have 1 Golden Pearl female and she gets cold SOOO easily..I keep a 90 wtt. bulb on her all the time. While we're gone to Thanksgiving with some friends I'm leaving heat lamps on two cages and then a SAFE heater on my breeder cages for the buttons in there. Hopefully they stay nice and warm!

Hopefully my little house dog Gypsy stays warm in my room, too!

Since she has lotza' blankets and my warm goosedown blanket, maybe she'll stay warm...oops...sorry OFF TOPIC!

 

[Sushi]

A regular indoor "daylight" lightbulb will work. I use the compact fluorescent spiral light bulbs. Look for a "temperature" of around 6500K. That is the colour of light the bulb emits, 6500 Kelvins is in the blue spectrum and immitates sunshine well enough for the purpose of keeping them laying in the darker months. No need to buy those fancy (& expensive!) S.A.D. lights.