The Importance Of Light

Pet bird keepers know that their companions need fresh air, proper foods and a constant supply of clean water in order to survive and thrive. But not everyone knows that birds need light, as well, for optimum health.

All animals are dependent on light to some extent, but birds are particularly sensitive to it. Birds deprived of sunlight may develop a variety of problems, including poor nutrient absorption, vitamin D deficiency, feather plucking, and disruption of mating and breeding patterns.

Many bird owners place their pet's cage near a window or other light source, but that may not be enough to cure the problem, since glass can act as a filter, reflecting instead of transmitting certain portions of the spectrum.

Dr. John Ott's research into the light needs of people, plants and animals led to the invention of full-spectrum lighting, a term coined by Ott. Full-spectrum lighting recreates the light-environment birds and others have in the wild. The poultry industry has already discovered that the the benefits of providing full-spectrum lighting include increased egg production, larger eggs with stronger shells, and healthier birds. Couldn't your bird benefit?

You can read more about the benefits of full-spectrum lighting for birds in the August, 1998 issue of Bird Times.