Your article reminds me of another article (your visit to Daniel Lutolf’s aviary), in which you described how he gives rest to his birds.

Since then, I have also turned off the lights for one and half hours each evening, and there’s no doubt that, after the rest, all my birds seem to be very active and energetic.

Thanks for the updates,
Javed khaanzada
Vice President – Budgerigar Society of Pakistan

Natural light does, of course, vary tremendously anyway as the weather changes. Certainly sustaining artificial light with no breaks for rest does have a deliterious effect on results, as the stud as a whole stays continually active which is not desirable.

It is the duration of the total light available, both natural and artificial, with a rest period in between that gives the best overall results for good condition and breeding.

I am guessing in the original birdroom, there was plenty of natural light available.
Since this can not be switched off like the artificial lighting, how do the birds rest in this instance?

I would think it highly probable that any aviary birds, whatever species, take a daily rest period.

Most birds are highly active as dawn breaks (irrespective of artificial lighting) and the hens will emerge, excrete and the cocks will mate – all before you even get up yourself!

They are active all morning in the flights as well and you can easily check for yourself to see if my suggestion is correct.

I have had no experiences with canaries at all – budgerigars are enough for one lifetime of bird breeding!

Thank you for your question.

I raise Belgian Waterslagers, and have noted how the native birds disappear from the bird feeders during mid day.