( a Styrofoam fake nest in a few months old farm)
( all nests have 2 eggs in this new farm)
The number of eggs in nests in farm indicates the future of the farm. As we know A.Fuciphagus lays 1-2 eggs per brood and often if the condition of the farm is at its best most nests would have 2 eggs. (Some cases 3 eggs but rare).
It is very important to know this especially for new farms that have just occupied or stayed by Swiftlets. This would indicate how the farm would perforce in term of nests growth and bird’s population in the future.
Often many would not have noticed this. Like I had always said whatever happens in farms or changes it does tell tales. Its only depends on how well we could interpret the changes and the signs in the farm.
If a new farm that has operated for few months which has few nests and most of the nests have 2 eggs. It shows a good sign. This indicates that the environment is acceptable and the birds are adapting to the farm.
If most of the nests have 1 egg then it is not a good sign. This indicates something somewhere must have gone wrong. The farm owner needs to rectify this urgently. If such sign persisted often the nests growth and birds’ population in future would be affected.
This is due to the farm’s environment that causes stress to the birds. This could be the farm design, its micro and macro, and so on…………………………………
Naturally any effect that causes stress to the parents of the birds it would affect their production of eggs. This is natural instinct in bird to help them to survive.
One of the good examples is food. If the food source is depleting in an area the sizes of nests would be smaller. Some parents may event push out one of the 2 chicks and concentrate to take care one. This is to make sure at least one survives. This often happens during draught season when a food (insects) is scare.
Some may even abandon their nests and this causes migration. So it is uncommon to see dead chicks and eggs that are not hatched on farm’s floor. If this happened it must be rectify immediately. (It could also be due to predators as well that frighten the birds thus causing stress).
Whatever it is everything in the farm indicates something. In order to interpret and understand all these signs one has to be very observance and sharp.
Good farming All!
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