There will be more eggs on the floor of Bh during the low breeding season which is from April to July. This is the period of dry season where food is scarce, looking for insects which is the food of Swiftlet is not easy as the insects breeding and survival rely very much on rain.
During this time the percentage of successful breeding is 59 % or lower while towards the year end which is from Sept to Dec (Raining Season) the successful rate is at 97% (GAHPEB Species Malaysia). From the above information it’s clearly indicated that the wet season is very important and water is the essence of life in Swiftlet farming.
( Dead Chick on the floor)
Due to the scarcity of food during the dry season the average egg produce per pair of Swiftlet is 0.76 and average nestling raised per pair of Swiftlet is 0.44 % (GAHPEB Aerodromus Species Malaysia). While during the rainy season from Sept to Dec the average egg produce per pair of Swiftlet is 1.89 % and nestling raised per pair is 1.32 %. A surviving rate of more than 3 times during the wet season. During dry season the parent would reject eggs by ejecting one or two from nest leaving a single egg or a single chick to make sure at least one survive. It is a natural parental instinct of Swiftlets.
( Eggs rejected by the parents. Pinkish color shows they just dropped few hours ago)
Coupled with the Heat Wave across whole Malaysia the breeding and the survival of the chick will be worse affected. Don’t be surprised to see dead chicks and eggs on Bh floor. There will be dead chicks in the nests as well.
( Another dead chick. Temperature rises would kill chick.)
( Outside Temperature 37 C at Shah Alam at 12 noon)
Even providing extra food for swiftlet in Bh will not help much. As the commonly commercial produced insects in Bh are not the 100% staple food of the Swiftlet. As 95% of the insects consumed by Swiftlet are Flying ants, Wasps and Mayflies ( Langham 1980) not fruit flies which have been mistaken by many, though only selected 5% consist of fruit flies.
The EBN price is already killing us and now another unexpected HEAT WAVE that will last till Sept .....what more can we weather?
If you don't see any increase in Nest please don't complain as long it's maintained. Do you know that many out there are experiencing nest decrease, population reduce, etc.
Keep your Bh micro under control and check the reading periodically. If you discovered any changes take necessary action. Don't wait!
Good Swiftlet Farming All!