( Hygrometer shows good reading at 1.39pm. It would show different reading when placed on the 1st level)
It is a must to have a Hygrometer in Swiftlet farms. It helps us to find out the Micro condition in our farms. Without the Hygrometer we wouldn’t know the exact temperature and humidity in the Bh. By knowing the temperature and humidity level we would know whether we have built a good Bh or otherwise.
When it comes to Micro condition management there is no guessing game, though many had claimed that theirs Bh’s micro is at good acceptable condition but when I visit their Bhs 10 out of 10 fail to meet the average acceptable level.
Good Bh ( micro) should have a temperature of 26-30C and humidity of 75-90% Rh. But how many Bhs have achieved this?
Many have claimed that their Bhs have good Micro and their Hygrometers in their Bhs indicated good reading but somehow the birds population have not increased, the number of nests maintained and the quality of nests is bad ( small, cracks, etc).
Many of them are not new in Swiftlet farming, they have few Bhs and some of them have been involved even longer than me. I discovered most of them had placed the Hygrometer at the wrong place. When the Hygrometer is placed at the wrong place it would show different reading.
Before placing the Hygrometer we have to understand a little about science which involves air or gases.
Hot air rises and wet air sinks. So there are 3 parts or levels in our Bhs that we have to look at. The 1st part is below the nesting planks which is the most important. These are the places where the birds build their nests.
The 2nd is the middle part or level that usually stable or unchanged. It is below the 1st part which about 3-5ft below the ceiling. This is also the areas where most would place the Hygrometer. It is convenience and about our standing heights just put a nail there and hang it. That is why all would place their hygrometers there. At the stable middle parts the reading normally shows acceptable. If one based on the Hygrometer reading at this level he would find the Bh’s Micro condition is always good.
Rarely you would find Hygrometer placed at the 3 levels which are on the floor or from floor to waist height. But that doesn’t mean there are no such cases. I have seen quite few of Bhs which have Hygrometer on the floor or 3-5ft from the floor. This would mislead the owner’s of the Bh by indication a very high Rh and low temperature.
The best place to have an accurate reading is to place the hygrometer 1 ½ - 3 ft from the ceiling. This area is most important as birds build their nests here.
So now you understand why your Hygrometer shows good reading and yet your Bhs still unable to attract many birds to build nests.
So be sure where to place the hygrometer.
Good Swiftlet Farming All!