Jack of All Trades

Poultry raising, they say, is a combination of arts and science!

According to Collins Dictionary, arts is a non-scientific branch of knowledge. The way we install the brooding boards and fences, hang the brooding curtains, lay the feed-paper for the day old chicks, and screwing the broken feed pans are just a few things which I think need arts. Mostly, activities such as adjusting the feed pan and water nipple level, observing chick behaviour (piling-up or scattered—to correct the temperature setting), checking the health, collecting the morts** are some of (but of course NOT limited to) the things when both science and arts is necessary.

How about if the bearing of the

feed line motor is not working? Or when the switch of the cross feed motor needs to be replaced? ...when the feed auger breaks off in the middle of the feed line, when the water tank is not filling-up, when the automatic mini vents’ string snaps or when the blower fan arm cracks?

It’s very difficult for a veterinary-trained poultry farm worker, like me, to fix those things. I don’t have any other choice but to face (and solve) these mechanical, electrical, and plumbing concerns in the chook farm. To the best of my knowledge and skills I’m now trying to learn how to use a spanner instead of a scalpel, secure a vice grip instead of a haemostatic forceps, and tie a thread seal tape instead of a bandage.

In our life, it is good to learn a little bit of everything. This life is full of complexities that make specialization, sometimes, inappropriate.

Just like when attempting to jump-start a tractor (having a flat battery). I need to set aside the fact that

gram-negative bacteria are coloured RED or pink in Gram’s Staining. Or else... -------------------------------------------------------------------
morts**- noun [Informal] Aust slang mortality; dead animals.