How I build Swiftlets Farm (shop lot) part 1

This is an insight view of how a farm is being built under my consultancy. This is one of the many farms that I had built. Many newbies here may have not seen or have the opportunity to see how a Swiftlets farm is being built.




Before deciding on the design an overview of the Macro is very important. It helps in designing. Where is the nearest successful farms, the flying route of the birds, the structure of the building, the material of the roof, etc. All these would help in the design. One needs to go up the roof to view. From here I will have a clear picture. My motto is "no mistake make".

Measurements are taken to making sure the design is accordance to plan. Has to take consideration of all micros to create an internal environment that friendly to birds especially young birds.

Toilet walls are broken down to create space. Whatever walls that obstruct the flying path will be taken down. Cost is secondary here. The objective is to make a good farm that could lure Swiftlets to stay at the shortest time.

Every detail has to be carefully observed a little change create great result. I am very particular about this .Swiftlets farm consultancy is not just about duplication of plan and design which most are doing it which resulted in uniform. We clearly understood that all farms are not uniform. All buildings and locations have it uniqueness. We need to capitalize on this. That is why some farms which duplicate 100% of an existing successful farm failed.

In order to succeed an in-dept understanding of technical aspect of farm design is needed.

To be continued............................

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这是我本身对如何建燕屋的理解观念。这是我所建的其中一家燕屋。很多新人还没有看过或没有这样的机会来看到新的燕屋是如何建起来的。

在决定設計之前, 外部環境是非常重要的。它对設計有很大的幫助. 那里有最近的成功燕屋、鳥的飛行路線，燕屋的結構，屋頂的材料等等。 所有這些对設計將有很大的幫助。 需要攀登屋頂觀看。 從這裡我將有一張清楚的圖片。 我的座右銘是" 沒有差錯"。

确对的測量来保證設計是依照計劃的。 必須考慮所有内部的环境来創造一個燕子所喜爱,特别是幼鸟。

洗手間牆壁被拆下来創造空間。任何阻礙飛行道路的牆壁將被拆下。 費用在这里是次要的。 宗旨是要创造一個好的燕屋農場用最短的时间来誘使燕子停留在燕屋。

每個細節必須小心地被觀察, 少量的变化将創造巨大的結果。 我是非常关注特殊的人。燕屋農場顾问不是仅關於複製它的計劃和設計来导致一致的。 我們明顯地瞭解所有的燕屋農場不是一样的。 所有大廈和地點有它的獨特。 我們需要利用。 所以一些100%複製成功的農場也有发生了故障。

為了成功, 對燕屋農場需要有詳細的理解和技术。

將繼續…

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You Could DIY

What I did was considered crazy by my friends. I erected 3 ton of Dark Red Meranti planks in my farm last year with the help of only one Indon worker. These are the solid heavy ones not those common type where most are using which cost Rm 1400 - 1800 per ton. It takes 2 and half weeks to finish and my friends considered it as "not smart" as he grumbled why waste your strength and it is dangerous. Just pay people to do it. Although they are my good friends but they don't see my love for Swiftlets farming. Only the Swiftlets know....ha..ha..ha.
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He saw what I did when the worker and I were standing on two woods (2x4") as a platform on top of the InterHole.....Well all I can say "it's not the money it's the passion, hobby and fun doing it" I also laid bricks, do partitioning, etc. It is just like fishing, how could you get bore with it unless you are a fisherman who earns a living out of it.

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I did it over a period of 3 months. When ever I was free I will do it especially over the weekend. Of course if you employ workers it could finish in 2-3 weeks. But I prefer to do it myself. I have time. I can wait that is what Swiftlets farming is all about. We may need to wait 2-4 yrs to see reasonable result. So what is 3 months. The satisfactions, no words can express. It is dam Syok! .......of cos when I come home from my farm I sleep like a baby too tire.

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It has got nothing to do with cost saving it is my love for Swiftlets farming. A farm that built by me, by my own hands from roofing to planks works.

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There are lots of things in the farm that we can DIY Depend how Extreme you are but don't follow me it is quite dangerous. There are so many of them all you need to do is just thinking and keep on thinking. Then you would find the ways of doing it.

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(DIY Pooling sound, for sure rain water won't go in. Good idea. This picture was taken from a farm in North).

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Swiftlet farming is all about creativity, idea and the love for it. Money comes secondary. If you keep on thinking about fast money and fast returns on investment then this not the right investment for you. Stocks & Forex are much appropriate for you.
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Good Luck!

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我的朋友认为我是瘋狂的。 我是在一名印尼帮工幫助之下在去年挑选了3噸 深紅Meranti板條来架設了我的燕屋農場。 這些是堅實而不是那些普通在 多數地方使用的類型, 它的花費大概是每噸RM1400- RM1800。 我用了2 半星期， 结果我的朋友视为”不是聰明" 因为他們抱怨為什麼花費您的力量， 并且是危險的。 要做请别人做。 雖然他們是我的好朋友，但是 他們看不到我对燕屋農場的愛。只有燕子知道….. .. 哈哈哈。

當他看見我和印尼帮工站在InterHole頂部的一個平臺只有两块木板上(2”x4"), 所以我只可以說 "不是金錢, 只是愛好和樂趣”; 我也铺磚，做分成等等。就好像钓鱼，您怎麼可能觉得它不耐煩，除非您是捕抓维生的漁夫。

我我用了3個月的时间。 當我有空闲时间特别是在週末来做它。 當然，如果 您雇用印尼帮工它可能在2-3個星期完成。 但是我喜欢自己做。 我有的是 时间。 燕屋農場是關於等待。 我們也许需要等待2-4 年的时间来得到合理 的結果。 因此什麼是3個月。 它的滿意感是沒有詞语可能表達得到。只是 Syok! ....... 当然我从燕屋農場回到家时我将会像嬰孩般的睡覺因为太累了。

我的對燕屋農場的愛是与节省成本沒有什么关系的。只是一個由我自己的手從屋頂到板條运作建起来的燕屋農場。

有许多东西我們是可以DIY的, 那就看您是極端到什么程度，但是别跟我的 因为这是相當危險的。 您只需要做很多思考和继续思考。 然后您将会會發 現它的做法。

(DIY合併聲音，肯定雨水不会涉入。 好想法。 這張照片從北部 的一個燕屋農場 拍的)。

燕屋農場是關於創造性、想法和對它的愛。 金錢是次要。 如果您想要得到快速的金錢和回收投, 這个投資是不正确的。股票& 外匯是比较適合的。

祝您好运!

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Decision That Causes Failed Farm

The unsuccessful farm seems to be increasing at an alarming rate as more and more newbies coming into this trade.

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Lots of them being a professional doctors, lawyer, a normal salary earner, or a successful businessman or a Ah Pek who sells salted fish in the wet market who wants to invest in Swiftlets farming and make it big, all of them shared the same mind and thought especially when it comes to decision making of who should they choose to undertake the construction, design and renovation of their shops or stand alone.

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One of the common things they look into is the Rm cost on the quotation they received from their consultants. The Rm has become a decisive tool and as yardstick for successful farm. The skill and knowledge come secondary. I once told them you don't need to be a professional to have a successful farm. Most of them succeeded in their fields but failed miserably in Swiftlet farming.

They would pin point one by one which consultants are going to give more tweeters (rm 1.50each, penny wise pound foolish). How many humidifiers in farm, how many timers and so one. Does this matter???

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Successful farm has got nothing to do with the above. Having 1000 tweeters or 50 tweeters and having 10 humidifiers or 4 humidifiers will not guarantee success. It is the skill of placing the tweeter at the strategic location and the type of tweeters. Whose quote is cheaper or more expensive also do not justify a success of farm..

IT IS THE SKILL.

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That is why all of them shared the same thinking being a professional or a Ah pek, "who give more tweeters or the cheaper quote will secure the job".

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As they are newbies their knowledge in Swiftlet farming is still in infancy but this doesn't prevent them to think Big. Being successful in their respective fields their confidence had made them not only think positive but a thinking of over estimated themselves. The common failed farm syndrome of “I sure win ". Most would think that a Refrigerator repair man or a Vegetable seller who are illiterate can make and own farms that harvest 20kg a month then what about me who is a professional. Swiftlets that fly into farm do not choose the owner all they want is a good farm and a good farm could belong to anyone.

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The decision of choosing a right person to undertake the job is of most important. It is not what they can give or provide. It is what they can do, how good is their skills and knowledge?

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Worse of all as time goes by perhaps a year or two after the farm had being built when the newbies had learned and acquired more knowledge then only they notice their mistakes.

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If we want the failed rate to reduce in near future I guess all newbies should discard off the "I sure win" syndrome otherwise the failed rate will keep on going up.

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IF YOU CAN NOT DECIDE..... THEN GIVE ME A CALL...As I do consultation too...012-3173811.

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Failed Swiftlets Farm Turned Around

Last weekend I was in S.P to check out and do some maintenance works of a farm that I had JV. .I received a call in the late evening from my partner who is impatiently asking when I will be coming to S.P to check the progress our JV farm. He insisted I come the next day.

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I was very busy and had postponed the trip few times before. I told him that I have to check whether there is flight ticket available. I booked the ticket the minute I put down my phone luckily there is ticket available. I have to clear all my other works as I'm going for few days.

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That night I went to bed at 3am and get up at 6.30am to catch a flight. I was in a rush I've forgotten to bring along my camera. This was the first time I travel without my digital camera. Quite uneasy for me as without the camera I can't take pictures and do video recording. As most know I love to post pictures in my blog. Never mind.....

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The past few months’ weather in the North was very hot and dry. It hasn't rain for few months. It was very dry and many Swiftlets traveled far for food and to places that are wet. Some may have stayed at the wet area making it their permanent home. The sky was clear temp raising reaching 37c I could hardly see birds flying in the sky. At this Prime Bird Zone area usually there are at least few hundred of birds at any hour of the day but during this time to find few is not easy.

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This has been the phenomena during every dry season especially during the East monsoon from Nov - Feb .

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During my visit the rain came it was the first after many months. I guess I was lucky. My partner hinting to me that I have brought rain to S.P. I was there to check the progress of the farm that I had revamped in Dec-08. Ever since the revamp I advised him not to visit the farm until my next visit. So no one knows how the farm is progressing after the revamp.

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It was a 1 year plus farm with 12 nests. Some of the nests had been abandoned by birds. The nests quality was bad, most have holes and broken. This was due to poor control of micro. The ventilation, temp & humidity were not up the minimum requirement.

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There were many partitioning in the farm which restricted the movement of air and the birds' flying circle.

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I removed the partitions, balanced up the micro. The placement of tweeter was rearranged to create an environment that similar to farm that harvesting many kgs. New good Motorola quality tweeters were installed. It was a total restructuring exercise. From a 3 entrance holes to 1, sealed up all entrance holes except a strategic one. I could see many farms here having more that one entrance hole. It is popular here (S.P) which I do not buy such idea. Perhaps the one who built it could not decide where and which are the most strategic place to put the entrance hole.

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After all are done, 2 bottles of Love Potion were used. The smell was strong and lastly changed the cd sound of the farm. The new sound is from my own remixed collection. That was what I did to the farm that I had revamped last Dec.

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This time when we inspect the farm the nests have increased double fold within 2 months. There were many new nests marking on the planks and many patches of new birds shit. We were happy to see the result. The new nests marking were in the area that has no nests before. It shows that the revamp has changed the micro and birds seemed to like it.

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As usual second round of maintenance job applying Love potion, retune the sound system, etc. Later in the evening at about 7.40pm we went to the back of the farm to observe how many birds actually stay in. We were curiously looking at the entrance hole. There were few hundred of birds circling on top of the farm thank to the earlier rain. The birds had come back.

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The owner was saying how nice if all these birds stay in my farm and I replied lets see. There were few birds entering the farm 1 to 2 at a time most circling above Hex tweeter. Gradually more came from 1 - 2 at a time to 5-10 and keep on increasing. It was outrageous, we lost count it was like bullet 10-20 and increasing. All queuing up by batches squeezing between them hurrying getting into the farm. Within 15 minute estimated 600 birds had entered the farm it could be more. As we look up the sky the birds that flying on top of the farm is getting lesser as most of the birds had entered the farm.

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The owner can't believe what he saw. He keeps on telling me “this is the first time I saw so many enter my farm”. It’s unbelievable. I was frustrated because I didn't bring my camera with me to record it.

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This is a good sign more important is that the 600 birds entered the farm at that hour indicated that they had stayed. If few hundred enter the farm during morning or noon it will not guarantee that they will stay. They may play for few minute or hour then leave.

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I can't describe how happy my partner was. Later we went for dinner and discuss how we should maintain it. Given the high number of birds staying in 2-3 months time there will be lots of nests.

The next day to assure that this is not a just one time coincidence event we decided to do the same to count the birds entering the farm at the same time. Bingo! This time estimated 700-800 birds. He was totally speechless and jaw dropping.

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I'm satisfied that the farm once categorized as failed farm now moving towards success. That is not all. This morning I received a call from my partners reporting to me the same 700-800 birds had entered the farm again making it continuously for few days. So there will many nests in few months time.

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So the farm had been salvaged. Mission accomplished!

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Extra Feeding For Swiftlets

Extra feeding to attract Swiftlets to a new farm? Well it is a good idea, where there is food the will be Swiftlets. Lot of farmers had been doing this for long time.

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The whole idea is to attract Swiftlets into farms especially new farms. Swiftletl always fly to area where food is abundantly. Having a place that has lots of insects would surely attract Swiftlets.

There are few ways make insects especially flies. Some of the common ones are putting fruits in farm and let it rot or using wheat and oat mixing with sugars, yeast....etc and many more techniques.

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The question is not how many flies it could produce or how many Swiftlets the feeding could attract. It is how many Swiftlets your farm could attract and how many of them would stay and make nest.

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No points of having food around or in your farm where Swiftlets come and eat later go back to their respective farms to stay and make nest. Your farm has become a restaurant for Swiftlets but not a Hotel. What we want is a good Hotel for them to stay and make nest. As for food they can go anywhere to look for it as they had been doing it.

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The conclusion is to have a good farm that has a good micro with this even without extra feeding you would see nests in your farm. So micro is much more important than extra feeding.

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I would be very much happy if a shabby farm next to mine everyday provides flies for swiftlets. He could attract all swiflets around to his farm for food and when the evening comes all Swiftlets will fly to farm that have good micro. So as far as Swiftlets concerned my farm got all the free publicity.

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Secondly rotten fruits also attract predator especially "Musang". Once they have got into your farm all Swiflets will fly away and never come back as the odor from "Musang" really scare them.

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Good Luck!

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Shit! Yes its Shit

Bad smell really tells something. The moment when I go inside a farm the first thing I sensed before I can see is smell. The stronger the smell the more birds and nests will be in the farm.

Successful farms have smell that are so bad that you have to wear mask. The mask is good to protect you from not only smell but also parasites.

The birds get use to it and they seemed to like it. The smellier one has more birds. Imagine if a farm that is more than 3 years and the moment you enter you smell nothing, what's happens?The answer is "fail".

(successful farm with inches of thickness of shit. Like walking on a sponge.)

So smell is very important that is why many new farm's owners tried to imitate the condition of old farm by putting bags of birds shit in their farm. But often the smell generated by these bags shit are not Strong enough. Therefore the special Aroma is needed ( Love Potion). I don't put birds shit in my new farms. I only spray Love potion once a month. The smell is good enough to attract many birds to my new farms.

Given all conditions of farms ( new farm) are perfect plus good application of Love potion, there will be patches of dropping within the first few weeks.

( when u see this look above they will be nests on top)

The more patches of dropping in your farm the better this indicates many birds had visited your farm and some had stayed.

It is not impossible to see many dropping the first few days. As for my new farm there is about 12-16 patches of birds dropping on each floor the first week after the farm opened, given the condition where it was not located in a prime bird zone area I am satisfied.

So SHIT Means Good , Not Shit you're in troble..ha..ha..

Good Luck!

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Single Storey Farm/Money can't Justify success in Swiftlet Farming

Single storey farm? Why not, my reply to my reader. Not all who invested in Swiftlet farming are rich. There are many who make it came from middle income . Of course those who have bigger budget have better option when it comes to design, sizes of farm and equipment that going to be used.



But that doesn't mean that bigger budgeted farms will out perforce smaller ones. In Swiftlet farming money can not justify success. Because, when swiftlets build nests they don't care how thick the money in your pocket and they don't care how much you have spent in building the farm all they care is a good Micro in farm. Be it cheap or expensive the construction cost doesn't impress the Swiftlets.



That is why so many towkays are so pissed off about this trade. They have the cash, if they want the best expensive car they can have it , just pay. If they want the best biggest luxury house they also can have it, just pay, name a price build it. If they want the most beautiful....Wom..... they still can have it as saying money can buy anything, but..................but...........
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But when it comes to Swiftlet farming they are pissed off. Their money is useless. They can not pay the swiftlets money to enter the farm or to build nests. This was the biggest challenge. They can buy all the nests in the market with their money but to make the Swiftlets make nests was beyond their money could control. So it is sort of a challenge of dissatisfaction. From here this had made towkays building bigger and bigger farms some even exceeding few million in the end having number of nests below expectation.


I have spoken to few of them in the North & South who are very wealthy with huge asset. You can imagine the wealth they had. They complained to me.


"James, it is not so much of the money I can make from swiftlet farming as my wealth is more than enough for many of my generation to come. It is the " Tulan" dissatisfaction that I can't make the birds build nests in my farm, that keep me in this business"


Again so money can not justify success in Swiftlet farming. Knowledge and skill count.


So immaterial how big or small or how many storey is your farm the most important thing is doing the right way that liked by swiftlets. I have visited few single storey farms that are very successful. Within 2 years of operation it managed to have more than 250 nests. The build up is only 20x60 s/f, the whole thing including the building and renovation cost is below Rm 60k. At the same time I have also visited farms that cost Rm 800k-2.5m (standalone) failed badly.


So it is very much depended on who is the one who designed the farm, renovating the farm and managing the farm.


If you have a big budget but you don't have the knowledge and skill to do it or you are unlucky to find someone that also poses the same skill like you to undertake the development job of your farm then your farm is destined to fail.


One of the common mistake most made is perceiving someone that are 1/2 bucket of water as a good consultant or sifu to undertake the job.


Secondly common mistake made is that most would select offers that are at cheapest as an indicator to who they will award the renovation job. As I had mentioned before numeration in dollar sign can not be used as measurement of success, be it expensive or cheap. So a consultant's offer (renovation) which is cheap or expensive would not justify your farm will be successful. Sadly this has been a norm in the Industry.


If most could understand the above then I am confident that the number of failed farms in Malaysia would reduce greatly in future.


Good luck!


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From 20 nests to 54 nests in 5 months

Got a surprise call this morning from one of my readers Mr T, who I had revamped his farms 5 months ago.

"Hi Mr.James. I'm T from Johor........Good Morning and many..many thank you!".

I was surprised "Oh, the very innovative fellow from South, How is your farm?".

Ai yo... I am more than satisfy. That is why I call you. I am very very happy. Now my nests have increased from 20 after 3 years to 54 within 5 months. Come and visit me again I can not wait to show you. All expenses don't worry I will "kow Tim"....come..come.. make sure you come..ok..ok...promise...?

Then the conversation goes on and I advised him how to push the increment further.

I was speechless and obliviously happy. I was happy to hear the achievement in my reader's farm especially the farms that many have gave no hope of turning it around. It had been revamped before by few well known consultants but it didn't show any positive sign.

There are many instances owners gave up and sold their farms away as they see it as unsalvageable. I was wondering are they making the right decision? Do they have the right knowledge or the skill to make such decision or merely wanting to get out. How do they know that their farms are usavageable? If they were so sharp then it won't be a failed farm.

It is uncommon that many had sold their farms with relieve and a year or two later to discover that the farms they had sold are some of the best in town.

There were few cases where the previous owner called me for advise of the price that he should offer the new owner after a year when he deposed of his farm.

And I had commonly heard " That farm that collected many many kgs of nest per every 3 weeks was previously owned by me" . Then why do you sell it? The reply was " Ah Ya, I made mistake loh, Last time 300 gram also don't have & no improve so I sell cheap-cheap lah, now regret lah"

I believe all farms can be turned around all one has to do is to find out the cause of problem. If you don't know then it is hard.

Make sure you find someone that knows about revamp farm otherwise it would do more harm that good.

So I will be leaving for Johor soon to see it myself. I am glad that I had helped Mr.T otherwise he may be one of those that intended to depose off farm.

For those whose farms are not doing well you may contact me : 012-317-3811

Good Luck.

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Checking your New Farm

The very common mistake of most newbies is that they can't wait to visit their new operated farms to see the progress. If they could the would visit it everyday especially the first few months after operation.


They are very inpatient some check their farms almost everyday. With their presence how can the birds find peace. Can't really blame them this is human nature, curiosity. They want to find out how many patches of bird shit in it, whether the birds had stayed or otherwise and whether the equipments installed are functioning properly and so on.


I would advise that after the farm completed a check list should be done making sure all equipments, all alterations and whatever needed to be put into the farm are completed and at its final before the sound is played.


This would prevent frequent entry.If there are still uncompleted task and once the sound is played especially for new farms, there would be birds playing outside the entrance hole and some birds may try to enter the farm. Imagine birds entering the farm and you still have unfinished task in the farm this may frighten the birds.


To find out whether birds had stayed all you need to do is to check it from outside. Its more accurate than checking from inside.


At 7.15 to 7.45 pm depends on areas, look at the entrance hole it will tell you how many birds actually stay in your farm for that night. Most birds that enter the farm at that hour will stay. For new good farms 100 or more birds will enter within minutes. From here you would know how many birds had chosen your farm.

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(glide down with speed to enter farm)

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For me once my farms (new farms) had completed and the sound is played I would not visit it until it is necessary. I want the new birds that enter my new farms especially in the afternoon to feel secure and comfortable. Once they get used to it they will be back later in the evening to stay.


So you may try it this evening to find out how many birds actually stay in your new farm.


Good Luck!

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Cockroach Killer

How to get rid of cockroaches? Well some of you may have been using it for a while but for those who are yet to use it, I would like to share with you. I find it very effective and handy.

The Cockroach Killing Chalk. It's cheap and effective initially I thought it only kills Cockroach but later discovered that it kills Spiders and Ants too.

I have been using it for a while in my old farms. It's got rid of Cockroaches. When my another new farms opened few months ago I didn't put any insecticide as I see no signs of insects especially Cockroaches & ants. I only use them when there are signs of pests as I always wanted to maintain my farms free from insecticide whenever possible especially for new farms.

There were no signs of pests so insecticide is not needed. I was wrong until one afternoon when I decided to give it a try and use it on my new farms since I have kept some stocks for my old existing farms.

After applying it the next following week I was surprised to see so many dead Cockroaches, ants, spiders, etc on the floors of my new farms. This changes my perception on new farms which I only apply insecticide later when the farms have nests.

Cockroaches eat nests and their dropping disliked by birds. They even bit the small young chicks. In a severe attack the young chicks may die. Nests that are eaten by Cockroaches fetch lower price. if the farm is infested with Cockroaches, ants and Spiders it would cause stress to the birds and eventually they will look for new farms.

Below is the product description. It is very safe to use.

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This product is a touch-poisoning cockroach killer made of chalk. It contains an active ingredient of 2.5% acephate. With a powerful and immediate effect in killing cockroaches, it is also safe for men and animals.

Low-toxic, powerful and long-lasting effect in killing cockroaches. Safe and sanity. Immediately touch-poisoning. Ready to use and easy to carry.

Use the chalk to draw #, circles, quadrates or polygons where cockroaches are frequently observed. Lines are 2 to 4 cm wide and their thickness is half of that of a coin. Draw more lines if the place is heavily infested.

This product can be placed in cracks, corners and areas around at home, in hotels, hospitals, malls, food stores, supermarkets, schools, cars, on ships or planes, etc.

Time of efficacy 3 years.

Hope it would help those farms that are facing Cockroaches problems

If you can find it around your area you could always email me.

Good Luck!

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Taking Advantage Of the Migration Swiftlets

When we talk about Macro we must understand what influence it. Weather affects Macro. Weather change affects the temp and Rh of all farms immaterial how good the farms heat insulation.

In Malaysia the West & East monsoons that significantly influence the macro that could stretch from 3- 6 months. It is good in area when it brings rain and pushes up the Rh and lowered the temp whereas in the opposite areas it would cause temp rises and drought sets in.

Recently in some states in the West North temp reach 38C' and I have readers who called me for advise registered internal farm temp reaches 40C where the usual high was at 30C.

(very dry and hot)

They were seeing less and less birds coming back. With such high temp it is hard for the birds to stay and to look for food. When the temp is high and without rain flying ants, nymphs, etc would be hard to find. So even farms that are heat & low Rh proof or with best tech that are using best heat insulation bricks would not be spared. The birds just can't "cari makan" so they migrate to area that have lots of food and areas that have a Macro that suit them. It is not uncommon that Swiftlet migrate to area that are few hundred Km from their existing place as it has recorded.

This forced the birds to migrate as they are no longer able to live in an environment that beyond their living perimeter. Some may look at it as a set back while others take it as opportunity.

So for the opportunists, it would boil down to how well they capture the migration birds. A simple calculation would be “CAPTURE Vs FORGO Percentage"

As we know the Monsoon changes every 5-6 months, East to West and via versa. So both sides would have the equal opportunity.

For example if you loose 20% of birds during the drought season and manage to attract 50% of birds that migrate to your area during raining season than you would gain 30% increase in birds in your farm per period.

If you loose 20% of birds during the drought season and only mange to attract 10% of birds that migrate to your area during raining season than you would not see increase in bird’s population in your farm. You would see a decrease, you loose 10% per period.

My conclusion is that it is OK to loose some birds during bad season but at the same time when opportunity come it should make back at least the double what you have lost. If one could maintain such balance then seeing a good increase of bird’s population in farm yearly would not be a problem.

So having a good farm is not good enough, one needs to accommodate, understand, and know how to take advantage when the opportunity is given.

So Swiftlet farming is one thing that you can not sit down and wait and wait and wait.......till no ending.

"Swiftlet farming is every moment you are waiting something is being done. It is constantly adapting to the changes of the environment to create a balance which benefits the farmer and the Swiftlet."

Good luck!

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Placement of Tweeters in Farm

Calls keep coming in. I was driving I have to park my car a side to answer it. I wonder who is the caller non stop calling after each ring.

“Hello? Hi James, How are you? I am Mr.D from Setiawan .I replied, Oh.... good. Haven heard from you for a while. How can I help you? It better be something interesting I told myself.

He replied, I want to ask you something, then I says go ahead. My farm is completed and ready to operate anytime. I am waiting to start the sound but before that I need your advice on the number of tweeters in my farm. I am worrying that the 40 pcs of tweeters on each floor of my farm may not be enough.

I replied, why do you thing so? He said some of his friends had advised him to use as many tweeters as possible. Probably a distance of 2 feet each, the more the better.

Probably his friends were right.....but...It is true that most new nests were made on top of tweeters or around the tweeters so having more tweeters mean having more nests but not in all farms. It depends. If the conclusion and the ultimate tactic and skill are relied on the number of tweeters then many failed farms problems will be easily solved. Just add tweeters! Want to have more nests add tweeters! Fail farm, new farm, old farm, shabby farm, just add tweeters the ultimate solution!

The placement of the tweeters is very important. I always believe in quality than quantity. The whole idea of having tweeters in farms is to create an environment that sounded similar to an old farm that has many swiftlets. But then again it also has to be realistic in a way that the sound of these tweeters come from different directions that are similar to successful old farms ( if you had visited farms that already harvesting 10kgs and above you would know what I mean).

( farm with average number of tweeters)

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So the numbers of tweeters is important but to a certain extent only. If without combining with good placement of tweeters or the tweeters are not strategic located then having a great number of tweeters in farms is a waste. In fact it would create more confusion (to birds) than good.

The placement of tweeters is very important .It works as a pulling tool to attract and pull swiftlet from Roving Area to all part of the Nesting Room. The deeper the birds fly into the farm the greater chances that they will stay (provided all macros are at its best). The more areas the birds cover in farms indirectly they will spend a longer time in the farm. From here you would not hear complain like “Birds fly in then within second it fly out again Ah yo...how can".

Obviously bird sounds in good successful farms don't come from one direction only especially colonies sounds. Be more observant you would know what I mean.

After almost 45 minute chat with Mr.D, he finally understands what mean. He replied, I get what you mean already Mr. James, thank you. "Quality not Quantity" ok..ok..ok..Mr. James.

Good Luck

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Flying Path....Dog Kennel or Open Roof?

(DK)

Many had asked my opinion which is the best type, Open roof or Dog kennel? Well my answer is both. Both have their advantages.

It depends on the location of the farm. The common answer by many would be "if the majority in that area is DK then one should follow ".

That makes sense but there are many other factors needed to be considered before making the final decision.

Some of the factors are, wind condition, existing/old successful farms, light, etc. As I could observe more and more people prefer OR sighted reason of reducing noise pollution and there are more successful farms of OR than DK. That would be wise. But what we want here is to build a successful farm and sound pollution is secondary.

(OR)

For sure one thing not known by many OR biggest advantage is that it has room for error. It accommodated the mistake/error made especial in relation to flying path. That is the biggest advantage over DK.

Whereas for DK the placement and size of entrance hole have to be very precise in order to create a good flying path.

So the conclusions are: a) if you yet to understand the flying path and wanted to start a farm then choosing OR would help.

b) If you understand the flying path well then you could choose anyone to your advantage.

Good Luck!

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