GONG XI FA CAI 2009

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To all my readers , wishing you all a prosperous and wealthy 2009. May 2009 all your Bh full of nests. For new farms within a year your farms would have at least 100 nests and above.

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For those old and existing farms the growth will be at least 500%...ha..ha...ha. enough?

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For those who wanted to start but yet to have enough capital .... God of fortune will help you and money will pour on your door step..... make sure you use this money for BH!

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For those who want knowledge in Swiftlet farming......Then Contact me!

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GONG XI FA CAI!

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from James

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Revamp Stand Alone Farm

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I will be leaving for the South to revamp a farm. I received a call from Mr.T . He said he has been reading my blog since I started it last year. He was a funny person.

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He has a farm of 3 and 1/2 years. It is a Stand Alone in an Oil palm plantation. It is a 25x 80, 3 storey. It has only 20 nests. As I understood from him that not far from his farm there is a successful farm of 4 years plus which belong to his relative which currently harvesting 2-3 kgs per month.

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His relative had showed him his farm and had advised him on how to improve his farm but to no avail. For the pass 1 year the number of nests has not improved. He had even engaged consultants but the number of nests had not improved since.

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All sort of ways had been tried, he had almost given up until he spoke to me. I told him there are many like you who are facing the same problem so you are not the only alone. There are thousand out there who may share the same problem like yours so take it easy.

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The biggest problem is that most owners of failed farms can't seem to find the real problem facing by their farm. They knew something is wrong but they do not know how it happened, when it happened and why it happened. If the knew, to find the solution would have been easy.

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It is just like in order to prescribe drug one must know what is the sickness and what causes it so that an appropriate drug could be given and a prevention measure could be done to prevent recurrence.

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What if you do not know anything? Well that is a huge problem. (Then I have to come in....ha..ha..ha.). Let’s look at the example below;

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Temp high in farm

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1) What causes it? Lack Vent holes? Roof? Design? Material of roof?.....and many more.

(If you have pin-pointed the causes then it would be easy to solve the problem. If it is lack of vent pipes then increase it).

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If you know the problem, finding the solution is easy. If you can't even notice the problem then no way the solution would arise. Solution arises only when there is problem.

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Anyhow I will help him to solve his farm's problem and most of all provide solutions to the problem his farm is facing. At the same time teaching him how to self diagnose his farm so that in future he doesn't have to rely on others.

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To Attract Swiftlets to Stay in New Farm

Aroma & Sound are the leading factors affecting farms especially new ones.

A good sound for new farm is of most important. At this time good sounds that are clear and unique would attract birds from far to the source of sound. In order to achieve this, the Amp has to be good too. A combination of sound & its equipment that generate good quality sound would have added advantage.

( what is the point of having a farm that couldn't attract Swiftlets to stay)

Sound will pull in the Swiftlets from afar, and then what is next? As the Swiftlets have found the source of sound and have identified the farm, what make them enter the farm and stay?

The answer is AROMA.

Aroma will be the factor for now, most completed new farms have unpleasant order which disliked by swiftlets. Some of the odors are from cement, wood, board (plywood), human odor (especially workers smoke in farm during reno), etc. These odors sometimes take months to disappear. Could we wait for months for the first Swiftlet to stay at our newly built farm? If you can't solve the above odor's problem then you have to wait perhaps longer.

In order to cut short the waiting time there are few things we could do to neutralise or subdue the unpleasant odor. Some of the very common ways are using Pineapple to clean or putting Ammonia or birds dropping to create a smell that of old farm at the same time to subdue the unpleasant odors. They are many more but the above are the most common ones.

As for me I would only use the Love Potion because the Love Potion Aroma is so powerful that after you have applied you could only smell Love Potion. It subdues the other odors. Best of all it attracts Swiftlets and Swiftlets love it. It is convenience to use, just pour it into a sprayer pump and spray it and that's all.

If all the unpleasant odors are gone you would instantly see improvement to your farm. One of the indications is that when Swiftlet entering the new farm they would stay more than a minute at least. Too often there are many complains that Swiflets entering new farm within seconds they fly out and never returned.

That is why sometimes it takes more than a year for swiftlets to inhabit a farm but all these could be cut short especially the time factor if you understand the above and could solve the problem that enclave in farm.

So the Aroma & Sound in farm have to be balanced in order to achieve a favorable result. If you have a good attractive sound that attracts many Swiftlet to your farm but the Aroma in the farm is poor then it would be a setback. Swiftlets would come and play and probably enter the farm for few second and leave again. After a couple of days after you had turned on the sound of your new farm you would notice fewer Swiftlets play compared to the first few days, eventually less and less till non will come.

The Sound is to pull them to your farm and the Aroma is to make them stay. Once these have been achieved you could see good result.

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Where Should my Farm's Entrance Face?

Many are confused that should their New farms Entrance Hole face the direction of Swiftlets leaving in the morning or the direction when they return back to their farms ( old successful farms) in the late evening.

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What is your answer? Let’s put other factors such as sunlight, wind, compatibility, etc. aside and only considering the 2 above.

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Well, I would prefer the direction facing the old farms (direction leaving in the morning). Others may have their own opinions by I would stick to this.

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If your farm's entrance hole is facing the direction of the Swiftlets home coming route it would be hard for them to visit your new farm. If you had observed closely , during the home coming time from 7.00-7.45pm (depends on locations, areas, month, season, etc) Swiftlet would be at their rush hour heading towards their farms with speed as the daylight is getting dimmer. You would see thousand of them swamping in to few farms. In such situation its rarely that they would visit your farm as they are in rush.

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If your new farm's entrance is facing the old farm (successful one) your entrance and CD sound could attract or promote about your new farm to swiftlets that are coming out from their farms in morning. In other words, the first external sound that they hear is your Cd sound of course coupled with the external sound of the existing farm.

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Facing old farms has its advantage as before the rush hour there are also Swiftlets flying and playing above old farms if your Entrance hole is facing them it would attract them to your farm. Your tweeters have to face the old farms.

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I would prefer entrance hole facing old successful farm but some may have different opinions. Whatever the decision is solely yours.

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Good Luck!

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Have u Prepared for the Hot & Dry Season

( a place used to be Swiftlets favorite hunting ground now hardly could see a Swiftlet)

It is getting hotter everyday. Less rain expected in the West Coast. Unlike the East Coast the monsoon is still there.

In the hot and dry season birds will fly farther to search for food especially in areas that are wet and damp. You would see birds coming back late, some entering the entrance hole as late as 8.30 pm or even 9.00pm.

Now is a test to farms that are built during the wet season. Most farms built during this period have no worry about the RH,Temp,etc as the outside condition is cool and damp. The last quarter of 2008 was a wet,wet,wet quarter as it rains almost everyday.

So most of these farms passed the minimum criteria of a good. Even it is a shabby works birds would still stay.

The hot season is here now (West coast) have all these farms prepared for it? If not, then they will see a drop in number of birds stay in farms and for those that already have nests they will notice the numbers drop.

As for Farms that had anticipated this would see their farms improving as it will capture all those birds that are migrating due to unfavorable conditions in shabby farms.

Therefore you would hear some farmers saying”in just a particular year the number of nests in my farm increases by 3 fold".

So have you prepared for it? If not you should do something about it.

Good luck!

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Ready Made or Specially Made Farms (park)

Some of my readers had called me asking should the buy or invest into those “Ready made or specially made farms" in a specific area (Park) that come in 20 to 50 units.

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The most common question was, will the unit I buy will be a successful farm in future? Well it depends but for sure one thing competition is stiff.

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All these units were made solely for farming purposes and in future if the farm failed I don't think that you can rent it out for business purposes. They come with many packages such as including or excluding consultation on renovation, full or partial management for certain years and so on.

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Indeed it is hard to see all units will be successful. Even in some Prime Birds Zone Areas like K.T, K.B, S.P, K.M, Taiping, Setiawan,etc not all farms located at the same area or next to each other would have the same successful rate.

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Thru my experience I have seen 2 failed farms sandwiched a successful farm that is harvesting 18-20kgs per month. What happened to these 2 farms that sandwiched the successful farm? Aren't them in the same location?

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It would be a 10-20% ratio immaterial where it located. Could your farm be the one in the 10-20% ration side or otherwise? If this is the case then would all the 50 units’ farms have the same result? I am sure you have the answer.

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Therefore if you have one unit here your farm has to stand out amongst the 50 units so that your farm would fall in the 10-20% side. The Micro has to be the best amongst the 50 units so when a colony of birds passes by all would swap to your farm.

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In such situation the Internal Farm Design has to be good and unique, any mistake made your farm will be left out. Don't forget your farm is competing directly with the other 49 units.

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I guess my write above has give some conclusion for those who want to invest in it.

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“Owning a Swiftlet Farm is easy. Anyone can have it. Having a Successful one that could generate income is totally a different thing" james

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Good luck !

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The Opportunity is NOW!

The Global economy has affected especially the property market. This has caused pain to many in the property industry as the properties value dropped.

As it is there are always good & bad that simultaneously connected. Hence I would see it as an opportunity for Swiftlet farming especially for those who want to start. Now is a good to time to invest.

Before the affect or the economy slump to purchase a property solely for the purpose of Swiftlet farming is not easy. Not many would sell their properties as it generate good retail rental and even though it is available then price was high.

Since the global economy crisis rental is not easy anymore and this forced some owners to dispose off their properties due to their inability to service bank loan.

I would say it is cheaper and easier to acquire them now at the same time there are more and more owners disposing of their successful Swiftlet farm as they need money to turn around their other businesses.

I would see it as a good opportunity to invest now. Tho the current nest price has dropped tremendously but I anticipate it is temporary. When the market is back to normal in few years time the nest price would go up as well. Any uncertainty would not be permanent it is temporary.

If you wait till the market boom again then it is not cheap and easy to acquire shop lots, lands, etc.

Construction materials has dropped at least 30% or more now. Eg ; to build a Standalone farm that cost Rm 300k last year would cost about Rm 210k now ( 30%-300k). Would you want to wait till the materials cost increase to the previous price then you would only go in?

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( back to back all are Swiftlet farms a very heavy investment)

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So the for those who had emailed & called me for advise on whether they should invest in Swiftlet farming now or wait till the market gets better should understand the following:

1) Swiftlet build nest in farms do not influence by Global economy crisis. Whether the market up or down they still build nest"

2) New farms only be able to produce good amount of nest in the 3rd-4th year onwards so by the time the market would have been good and the price of nest would have also gone up as well.

3) Swiflet farming is not something or a commodity that "you buy or do today & you make money tomorrow" if you have this kind of thinking I would strongly advise you not to get involved".

Hope the above info could help in decision making.

Good luck!

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Putting Unknown Things in Your Farm

I met up with a friend of my mine who is also a blogger couple of days ago. During our "Teh Tarik session". I was told that some farm owners resorted to all sorts of action when they are in the desperate situation or mood. He asked "James had u heard about putting spices in farms?" How could I get rid of the smell and odor of these spices?"

I laughed almost drop dead!

My reply was “Yes! I always heard all sorts of things that farmers put in their farms to attract birds, from dead fishes to even diesel. You name it they may have tried it.

What these farmers are doing is actually preventing birds from their farms instead.

Which I had came a cross many who had done the same when I was doing my revamp works on their farms. It is a Myth, they just follow blindly. The blind leading the blind. They were no evidence or research done on all these. Practically just desperado mood and resorting to all Myth to attract birds.

In fact there are doing more harm and damage than good. My advise is DO NOT simply follow.

One of the encounters that I would like to share with you is when I was revamping a farm last year.

I was asked to revamp a farm of my readers in the East coast. As I entered the farm I smell fishy, strong fishy smell. I ask what is that ? As I walked towards the roving I could see kgs of salted fish on the floor. I jokingly asked the owner. Is this how you dry your salted fish? He replied, many of my friends asked me to do so because most of the successful farms are located in the fishing village that makes salted fish and there were many birds at these salted fish factories. "Oh I see".

It was totally a mis-perception. He was right but to a certain extend. I explained to him, “Putting salted fish in your farm will not guarantee your farm will harvest many kgs. The smell was so strong that it would deter birds from staying.

(Do you want to put this in your farm?)

Why there are so many birds around these factories? It is because the process of salted fish attracted lots of flies and it’s also produces flies. That was the reason that you could see many birds flying above all these factories as there are plenty of foods. Its not by putting salted fish in farms will be a definite success. There goes the mis-perception.

Another example is that when you visited a very successful farm and it is very dark inside then you would perceive that darker the better. This is also wrong. There are many other factors contributed to the success of the farm not only the darkness or the flies available.

All Micro & Macro have to come in hand not a single one could be taken likely if you want to have a good farm.

So next times beware, if u intends to put something in your farm perhaps you may ask James before you decide.

Good Luck!

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Good 2009

Happy belated New Year 2009. Sorry for not up dating my blog. I was tie up with many new farm developments. Finally most was completed and handed over to the owners.

I very happy with the response when the farms first open it sounds. The minute the sound was played birds diving into the farm. I thought they were just checking out the farm. They headed towards the nesting area and circling inside. On that particular day few birds stayed over night.

To achieve this everything has been pproperly planned prior to the opening of the farm. The design of the farm has anticipated the flying path of the birds. The micro environment was similar to old farm that has harvested many kgs. This was achieved with applying aroma (Love Potion). The sound was pre-selected to blend into the particular area and there are many more.

With the raining season here this would help new farms to attract new birds to stay and nest.

Anyway, May 2009 your farm would increase in bird population and nest!

Good Luck!