Some of these farms are located in the Prime (Swiftlet Haven Zone) areas like Kedah (S.P), Kelantan (Krai) and Trengganu.
How could this happened? There are some which I knew very well from these same areas could do 200- 500 nests or even more in 1-2 years time.
So is that the problem of the area or the farm itself?
Well of cos it is the farm itself. I had even received emails from readers who had operated farms for more than 2 years that could not differentiate between internal & external sounds.
They emailed me the sound and asked my opinion. I believe if it is done in a right manner chances of success are high.
I was asked to visit this farm which is located in the North which had been operated for almost 3 years now. Total renovation and set-up cost was about Rm 120k.
The last count of nest was 45 pcs. It was located in the Prime Zone area. The owner had persistently called me, till I promised to visit his farm. He was a nice guy.
Before the visit, thru our tele-conversation I was made understood that all the micro environments in his farm were perfect. Well if all were perfect then how come 45 nests after 3 years at the Prime Zone?
I guess this is usual as I knew most owners would tell me that the micro is perfect even though it is totally out, this is very much their perception. I reserved my reservation then.
As I had visited many farms, very clearly I knew when I walked into the farm there are dozen of mistakes could be detected without even going to the 1st or second floor , so how could it be perfect? 45 nests in 3 years at Prime Zone. It can not be perfect!
I guess if the owners themselves could detected all these problems then their farms wouldn't be at the 45 nests category.
Beside the micro the design of the farm was the biggest problem. The design was made without taking into consideration of the birds flying path.
The birds do not feel secured when they were in the farm as they find it hard to maneuver.
The roving size was out , the runway was too short. The entrance hole was placed at the area that do not favor by birds and dozen more, so how could one expect the birds to stay and make nest.
( above is the design of his farm which later was re-renovated)
Besides these the Temp & the RH were also out so does the darkness of the farm.
So I advised him to re-renovated the roving area, the position of the entrance and the inter room hole to accommodate the flying patent of the Swiftlets.
He noted " so much to learn one ah" I thought just put up partitions here and there birds will come to make nest".
I asked him " isn't it sounds easy? How come you never thought of it? How come the one who did your farm for you never told you? He laugh ..ha..ha..
The renovation takes about a week to complete and new birds sound was loaded to his pendrive and the farm starts its sound again.
4 weeks later, This is what I received from this Nice guy ;
Hello Mr. James
Thank you very much for helping me to solve my farm problems. Now more and more birds are flying into the nesting area to live.
The birds also many already. Many new birds shit now. Also new nests coming up. I very happy and thank you very much for coming to ......... help me.
Please come again and I shall take you for a good dinner better than last time.
Take care Mr. James
from
Mr. Wong...........
Therefore I guess whether a business or a swiftlet farm, an in dept understanding of the inter & external environment would certainly helps you to reduce the risk of falling into the failure category.
It sounded & looked easy but there are so much more to learn.
.