THE BENEFITS OF FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING
From feather plucking to calcium deficiencies many of the common health problems of African Grey parrots can be resolved with the proper amount of full spectrum lighting.
African Grey parrots are highly intelligent. This makes them very popular pets, but also very high maintenance pets. Their high maintenance makes captive African Grey parrots susceptible to several common health problems. Fortunately, many of the ailments common to the African Grey, such as feather plucking and calcium deficiency, can be resolved with a few simple environmental changes, the easiest of which is the introduction of natural sunlight or full spectrum lighting.
It might be hard to imagine, but the simple act of introducing your African Grey parrot, or any other bird for that matter, to natural sunlight or a full spectrum light system can increase the bird’s calcium intake.
When birds preen their feathers they spread oil over them from their Uropygial gland situated at the base of their tail. This oil undergoes a chemical reaction when it is met with the UVA and UVB rays of sunlight. The reaction changes the oil in to vitamin D3. When the bird preens again, they ingest the vitamin D3 from their feathers. Vitamin D3 is necessary for animals, and humans, to be able to extract calcium from their diet through their digestive tract.
Many people place their African Grey parrots in a cage by the window. This is ineffective in creating the vitamin D3 because home windows filter out the UVA and UVB rays that are required to synthesize the vitamin D3 from the Uropygial gland oil.
Avian veterinarians recommend that African Grey parrots be given access to plenty of fresh air and sunlight in order to keep their internal clocks, or circadian rhythm, operating properly. It is believed that disrupting the circadian rhythm can lead to depression and, consequently, to feather plucking in African Grey parrots.
However, for many people, cold winter weather makes it hard to open windows for their bird. This problem is further exasperated by the fact that, in much of the country, winter weather causes a lack of natural sunlight during the ever shortening days.
African Grey parrots are highly intelligent. This makes them very popular pets, but also very high maintenance pets. Their high maintenance makes captive African Grey parrots susceptible to several common health problems. Fortunately, many of the ailments common to the African Grey, such as feather plucking and calcium deficiency, can be resolved with a few simple environmental changes, the easiest of which is the introduction of natural sunlight or full spectrum lighting.
It might be hard to imagine, but the simple act of introducing your African Grey parrot, or any other bird for that matter, to natural sunlight or a full spectrum light system can increase the bird’s calcium intake.
When birds preen their feathers they spread oil over them from their Uropygial gland situated at the base of their tail. This oil undergoes a chemical reaction when it is met with the UVA and UVB rays of sunlight. The reaction changes the oil in to vitamin D3. When the bird preens again, they ingest the vitamin D3 from their feathers. Vitamin D3 is necessary for animals, and humans, to be able to extract calcium from their diet through their digestive tract.
Many people place their African Grey parrots in a cage by the window. This is ineffective in creating the vitamin D3 because home windows filter out the UVA and UVB rays that are required to synthesize the vitamin D3 from the Uropygial gland oil.
Avian veterinarians recommend that African Grey parrots be given access to plenty of fresh air and sunlight in order to keep their internal clocks, or circadian rhythm, operating properly. It is believed that disrupting the circadian rhythm can lead to depression and, consequently, to feather plucking in African Grey parrots.
However, for many people, cold winter weather makes it hard to open windows for their bird. This problem is further exasperated by the fact that, in much of the country, winter weather causes a lack of natural sunlight during the ever shortening days.
FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING
Do I Need Full Spectrum Lighting for My Parrot?
When you bring a parrot into your home, you know that you are putting it in a habitat far removed from its natural one. It is just impossible for you to truly mimic the rainforest in your home. However, there are things that you can do which will make the habitat a little closer to natural for your bird. One of these things is to consider the full spectrum lighting.
Many people do not even consider lighting when they are creating a home for their parrot. It is true that the special lighting is not necessarily vital to your parrot’s well being, but it can provide a great deal of health benefits that many people have not even thought of. If you have not, then you will need to consider them. Not all birds necessarily benefit as much from full spectrum lighting, but many parrots do, including African Greys. It is well worth considering adding a full spectrum light to the bird’s enviroment.
What Does Lighting Do For My Parrot?
It provides lighting that is much closer to the type of light a parrot would receive in its natural environment. By doing this, you can provide for the overall health of the bird in many ways.
First, this type of lighting allows for the natural creation of vitamin D for the parrot. This is much like how humans synthesize the same vitamin by spending time outdoors. There are many ways that the right amount of vitamin D can be beneficial for a parrot. For example, vitamin D can improve vision, making things sharper, clearer and more easy to see. Additionally, the vitamin will improve skin and feather health. You will find that your bird’s feathers will be brighter, shinier, and less prone to damage.
If you choose to add full spectrum lighting, you will be glad to know that you have choices. You can choose from a number of different styles of lighting and covers so that you can choose a light that will fit in with the décor of your home. You do not have to choose a light that would be an eyesore. You can even find options in a swag style that will provide the full spectrum lighting for the parrot’s cage as well as its area for play. When you choose the right lighting, you will want to make sure you choose one that can switch between daylight and night light to correctly mimic the right kind of natural lighting for your bird.
Do you need full spectrum lighting for your parrot?
The light is not a life or death choice. However, it can certainly improve the life and overall health of your parrot. If you want to provide the best and closest option to a natural habitat, then you will most certainly want to choose one of these lights for your own parrot’s home in your house
When you bring a parrot into your home, you know that you are putting it in a habitat far removed from its natural one. It is just impossible for you to truly mimic the rainforest in your home. However, there are things that you can do which will make the habitat a little closer to natural for your bird. One of these things is to consider the full spectrum lighting.
Many people do not even consider lighting when they are creating a home for their parrot. It is true that the special lighting is not necessarily vital to your parrot’s well being, but it can provide a great deal of health benefits that many people have not even thought of. If you have not, then you will need to consider them. Not all birds necessarily benefit as much from full spectrum lighting, but many parrots do, including African Greys. It is well worth considering adding a full spectrum light to the bird’s enviroment.
What Does Lighting Do For My Parrot?
It provides lighting that is much closer to the type of light a parrot would receive in its natural environment. By doing this, you can provide for the overall health of the bird in many ways.
First, this type of lighting allows for the natural creation of vitamin D for the parrot. This is much like how humans synthesize the same vitamin by spending time outdoors. There are many ways that the right amount of vitamin D can be beneficial for a parrot. For example, vitamin D can improve vision, making things sharper, clearer and more easy to see. Additionally, the vitamin will improve skin and feather health. You will find that your bird’s feathers will be brighter, shinier, and less prone to damage.
If you choose to add full spectrum lighting, you will be glad to know that you have choices. You can choose from a number of different styles of lighting and covers so that you can choose a light that will fit in with the décor of your home. You do not have to choose a light that would be an eyesore. You can even find options in a swag style that will provide the full spectrum lighting for the parrot’s cage as well as its area for play. When you choose the right lighting, you will want to make sure you choose one that can switch between daylight and night light to correctly mimic the right kind of natural lighting for your bird.
Do you need full spectrum lighting for your parrot?
The light is not a life or death choice. However, it can certainly improve the life and overall health of your parrot. If you want to provide the best and closest option to a natural habitat, then you will most certainly want to choose one of these lights for your own parrot’s home in your house