UV bulbs: The good and not-so-useful

There are few true studies done on UV lighting in reference to captive birds. However, there are a couple of accredited NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) articles on both humans and one on spoonbills that provide insight as to why it is necessary for all indoor birds to have access to an avian UV lamp. There are many people linking a YouTube video regarding UV bulbs – this video is spreading misinformation about how UV lamps do not work – this is not true at all, and the video is done in an uncontrolled environment with UV lamps that may or may not be new or old (UV bulbs should be changed every 6-12 months). I encourage those who have seen this video to please do more research, look for accredited studies from places like the NCBI website, and not a video upload site on the internet.

That said, here are a couple of articles which show the efficacy and necessity of UV lighting in general:

Human study – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2846322/ – “A UV lamp that emits ultraviolet radiation similar to sunlight and thus produces vitamin D3 in the skin is an excellent alternative for CF, and SBS patients who suffer from vitamin D deficiency due to fat malabsorption, especially during the winter months when natural sunlight is unable to produce vitamin D3 in the skin.”

Spoonbill study – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27468015/ – “Provision of a UVB light source to captive African spoonbills maintained indoors during the winter months can increase 25-OHD and iCa to levels equivalent to those seen in the summer months, when birds have unrestricted access to natural sunlight. UVB lighting is recommended for all breeding spoonbills that do not have access to natural sunlight.”

Why is the human study relevant to birds? – See here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31893618/ – “Low exposure to ultraviolet light, and resulting vitamin D deficiency, has recently been linked to autism spectrum disorder in people. Captive psittacine birds that exhibit feather destructive behavior share similarities with people affected by autism spectrum disorder, such as repetitive (stereotypies) and self-harming behaviors. The metabolic and psychological effects of housing pet parrots indoors without ultraviolet B lighting are not typically considered in animal husbandry or veterinary care.”

I have spent much of my time during the COVID-19 pandemic observing my flock and their behaviors as indoor-kept birds, who rely mainly upon the use of UVA/UVB lighting for the synthesis of vitamin D. I have watched my birds daily and have noted that they are frequently sitting near their UV bulbs, rubbing their preen glands and scrupulously preening themselves. This occurs throughout the day, most notably in the morning upon waking and in the early to mid afternoons.

I highly recommend considering the addition of a UV bulb to your indoor-kept bird’s environment. All our birds receive access to UV lighting for at least 4 hours per day (no more than 6 hours/day) for their health and well-being, and it shows, as recent blood tests from our avian veterinarian indicate healthy levels of vitamin D in our flock, as well as the observation of excellent feather quality and body condition. I see this even in active breeding birds and their resulting chicks – they are meeting developmental milestones (sometimes even surpassing them) no matter what season it is when I set up pairs to breed.

The UV lighting that you should be looking for should be UVA and UVB 5.0. Please note: full-spectrum lighting does not emit enough UVB to be useful to the synthesis of vitamin D in indoor-kept birds, so it is best to steer clear of any product marketed as being full-spectrum.

Written by Melissa Clarke (formerly Lao) from Peachy Keen Aviary