(Ceiling board to cover the windows. I prefer using bricks)
( I definitely won't use such wood as nesting planks)Visited another unsuccessful farm in the East coast. This farm has been operated for more than a year. The result wasn’t good less than 10 nests. The farm was done by a local consultant.
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This farm is Located along the road from Kuantan to Pekan. Though the location is not bad but the farm fails to attract many birds. The owner has attempted few revamps but it doesn’t help much.
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Later I was asked to visit this farm. When I enter the farm I could feel something not right. The micro is totally out. The farm is hot and it is too dry.
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This is an Open Roof farm the opening is big which is good but too big of an opening also brings in hot air.
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The farm is using ceiling board as partition to save cost but ceiling board is not good in heat insulating thus making the farm hot. Hot environment reduces the humidity of farms.
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The design is not good the whole farm is not conducive enough. I have asked the owners to add additional partition to create a better flying path.
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Besides that the planks are the problems too. It uses the wrong wood for nesting planks. No wonder many birds didn’t make nest. But the owner claimed it uses Meranti. To me that is what the consultant claimed, perhaps the sawmill guy.
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Thru my visiting records I reckoned that most of the failed farms are caused by few similar factors. There are:
1) Micro environment, 8 out of 10 could not create an internal environment liked by Swiftlets.
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2) 9 out of 10 farms are using unsuitable woods as nesting planks which later have fungus and mold
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3) 7 out of 10 farms, Poor farm Design that obstruct the flying path of birds in farm
It is not that hard to create a good internal environment liked by birds which I think most knew this.
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As for the mold and fungus it could be prevented if one uses good wood for nesting planks.
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For the 3rd one, it is a bit difficult unless you know what is birds flying path.
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I had advised the owner what to do if he wants to see his nests count increases.
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Most farms can’t meet the basic requirement no wonder the successful rate in swiftlets farming stood at 20% perhaps lesser.
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Good farming All!
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