For those that wish to, or are forced to, use artificial lighting for their birds
by the Cuckoo Stud

Artificial lighting and Vitamin D

When growing out chicks they require Vitamin D, not many are able to have chicks running loose and getting a dose of sunlight each day. Meaning the chicks are not getting adequate Vitamin D.

Many say “Just give them Vitamins.”
Yes vitamins are a useful tool in helping chicks to grow out healthy and strong
(bearing in mind a good diet is also needed for this outcome)

However the use of artificial lighting also helps =

Adequate exposure to UV light is the most important tool for Vitamin D conversion/absorption.

Reptile UV lights (they look like mini Fluro lights but are different in their output) are a valuable resource when you are either unable or unwilling to give vitamins 24/7; these lights emit the correct UV to allow the reptiles, and your birds to process it into Vitamin D.

So =

When either choosing to, or being forced to, use artificial lighting = use these reptile UV lights at the rate of 50/50 with regular White Daylight lights, and it should help dramatically reduce the risk of Rickets and other Vitamin D deficient problems

These reptile lights are the screw in type (as pictured above) so you will need the correct fixture = a cover that blocks the human equation from having to look directly at the bulb. I found that the large heat lamp covers once modified make excellent fixtures/covers and they direct all the light down onto the birds where it is needed.

Alternately you can use portable floodlights and attach a lamp cover over them = just so long as it is a screw in fixture with a cover.

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