KUALA LUMPUR— The hot and dry weather is
expected to persist until September following the Southwest Monsoon season,
which has commenced on May 15.
The Meteorological Department
in a statement here today, said that during the season, most parts of the
country would experience more days without rain.
At the same time, the cloud
cover will be less, while sunshine duration will be longer causing the
temperatures to increase.( above 36C)
However, the coastal areas on the west
coast of the peninsula will experience thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong
gusts particularly at dawn and early morning due to squall-line over the
Straits of Malacca.
During this season, there will
be an increased frequency of tropical storm activities over the western North
Pacific Ocean and northern South China Sea and causing strong winds with heavy
rains over Kudat and west coast of Sabah, the statement said. – Bernama.
The Heat wave, haze and smog worsen the dry condition. The burnings in Indonesia making the situation worse.
Young Birds may die of suffocation. It is not good news for Swiftlet farmers.
You would see fewer birds playing, some coming back late (up to 9pm) and some
never returned. Swiftlets would migrate to areas that have rain, even minimum
rain would attract them there. This is imminent but we could reduce the effect.
During this period temperature
rises to an extreme level, with outside temperature reaching 40C. Walls and
roofs temperature could reach up to 45C-80C. Internal of a well insulated
Swiftlet farm is not spared 29- 32C considered under control.
Some Bh registered 33-35C, and
this has been prolonged for months since the dry spell started in April. I
can’t imagine what would be for those poorly built and insulated Bhs.
What you could do is to increase the Humidity in your farm. Increase the spraying time to 30-40% more
or an addition of 1 or 2 more spraying cycles. Do not be afraid that the floor
will get wet. A cool floor will naturally cool the air in the farm thus bring
down the temperature through natural evaporation. (Not mist)
Wet air also brings down the
dust in the farm which helps the nests quality. Do not increase the operating
time of the exhaust fan (for Bhs that have exhaust fans). Whatever sucked out
from the Bh has to be sucked in too.
This is physic, the pressure,
what goes out must first come in. In other words, using exhaust fans to suck
out the air from the Bh means also sucking in all those hot air and smoke from
outside.
The increase of exhaust fan
operation hour or installing extra exhaust fans during this time will suffocate
young birds as much smoke being brought into the Bh. (None of my farms are
utilizing Exhaust fan)
Water sprinkles outside and
inside the Bh are encouraged to be operated. Once the humidity is at an
Acceptable level you would see improved nests quality. There will be less
elongated and out of shape nests. Nests will be much cleaner and with fewer
feathers.
The number of the Vent - hole
should be at its optimal level. This is the time you thank yourself for making
addition Vent-hole on the wall. Now you don’t have to hack the wall just remove
the end cap you have additional Vent-Hole for ventilation.
Bear in mind never open too
many Vent-holes. As a rule of thumb averagely one Vent-hole per ar180- 220s/f
area.
During the extreme period, you may open one additional Vent- hole.
Having too many Vent- holes would also bring in Hot air and Smoke into the Bh.
Fewer Birds are observed during
this extreme period because food (insects) is a scare. It is nature.
Insects come from the ground and trees, their mating and reproduction cycle are
Influenced by the weather especially rain.
A drought like this kills all
insects and their reproduction cycle. The dry ground is no longer their dens
but their graveyard.
It is important to provide
extra food during this time. Insect generating power is encouraged to be used.
Place it in the roving area. Make sure it is filled with enough water. It will
dry up extremely fast during this period.
It is common to see the
increase of dead birds in Bh. Young Swiftlets are prone to die from suffocation.
The dead carcasses attract predators such as Ants. Clean the Bh periodically
depose off the dead carcasses.
Lastly check for distortion
sound. Hot weather increases the temperature of the control room, thus
affecting the Amplifiers . Overheated Amplifier doesn’t produce good quality
sound. It affects the Amplifier’s performance.
Many of you may not be able to
Distinguish or detect it, but there are differences in sound quality between the overheated
Amplifier and the Amplifier operating at an acceptable room temperature. The Control room temperature shouldn’t be over 29C.
During the drought season, it is advisable that you should visit your Bh
more often than the raining season.
Good Swiftlet farming all!During
the extreme period, you may open one
additional Vent- hole. Having too many Vent- holes would also bring in Hot air
and Smoke into the Bh.
Fewer Birds are observed during
this extreme period because food (insects) is a scare. It is the nature. Insects
come from the ground and trees, their mating and reproduction cycle are
influenced by the weather especially rain.
A drought like this kills all
insects and their reproduction cycle. The dry ground is no longer their dens
but their graveyard.
It is important to provide
extra food during this time. Insect generating power is encouraged to be used.
Place it in the roving area. Make sure it is filled with enough water. It will
dry up extremely fast during this period.
It is common to see the
increase of dead birds in Bh. Young Swiftlets is prone to die from suffocation.
The dead carcasses attract predators such as Ants. Clean the Bh periodically
depose off the dead carcasses.
Lastly check for distortion
sound. Hot weather increases the temperature of the control room, thus
affecting the Amplifiers. Overheated Amplifier doesn’t produce good quality
sound. It affects the Amplifier’s performance.
Many of you may not be able to
distinguish or detect it, but there is a different between the overheated Amplifier
and Amplifier operating at an acceptable temperature. (Room temperature) The
Control room temperature shouldn’t be over 29C.
During the drought season, it is advisable that you visit your Bh
more often than on the raining season.
Good Swiftlet farming all!