Newly hatched chicks are without feathers. They are not protected from ticks, fleas and ant bite. This makes them vulnerable to pests. Often easily killed by ants if not they may be end up in the lizard stomach.
Make sure your Bh is free from pests. Often many would get rid of cockroaches and lizards but forgotten ants.
If you see young babies without feather on the floor chances are, there may have been attacked by ants, red ants.
You may wonder why they are on the floor but have you figured it out why they are three? If this happens check the nests. You will be surprised the nests are covered with Small red ants.
The future of a Swiftlet farm relies on the young babies birds. Without them there will be no population or nests for the Bh in the future. What we do now is for tomorrow or next month. It is for many years to come. Therefore in Swiftlet farming it is all about cultivating for the future.
For those who think that investing in a Bh is an easy job and it is better that other businesses, sorry to tell you that “You are wrong”. It has been a myth and due to many people uttering the words “No maintenance, only visit once a month, Low cost involve, It is an easy business and so on” make it seems a sure win investment.
With such perception many would think that as long they could get a consultant, as long they could DiY, as long they could get some books and read up they are on the right track of success. No..no..no..
Wait till you get involved then you know what I mean. Often those that stick to the principle of no maintenance, only visit once a month, no cost involved and so on would end up having failed farm.
It needs more than maintenance, it requires a clarity of mind and good observation to know and to understand what needed to be done.In other word the next step of action. If this happened what should you do next and so on.
Secondly, what needed to be put in the Bh to attract more birds? By observing the birds’ behavior and the Bh’s micro it would help us to plan. When I mention micro it means more that than just Temp, Rh, light density, flying path and so on. But these are the common components of micro that come into the mind of many when I say micro be it experience or novice farmers.
So make sure your Bh has good pest control. Even if the Micro is good but if the pest control is poor then the population and nests won’t grow.
Good Swiftlet Farming All!
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