(an Owl on electric wire)
( box house specially make for owl)One of the biggest problems of Standalone is Owl. It is a continuous threat.
If the Stanalone is located in the Oil Palm plantation the Owl problems continues. Whereas measure such as having nails, electric shock wire, small entrance-hole, etc to deter them from entering the Swiftlet farms but this doesn’t prevent them from roaming areas outside the farm.
Owl is a night (dark) predator specially hunts at dusk where swiftlets returning home. Most would wait and ambush from trees, electric poles, etc that are close to the Swiftlet farm. Therefore it’s not encouraged to have trees or whatever high poles at the area surrounding the Standalone farms. A 50 meter at least of clear area without any structures, trees, etc surrounding the farm is a must if the Standalone is located in the Palm Oil estate. This is to create rooms for swiftlets to observe and maneuver in the case of Owl attacks.
If the above measures have been taken and it’s still a threat then the last resort is to take them down by shooting. I personally don’t encourage this and Owl is a protected species. I strongly condemn killing.
Therefore standalones are harder to grow compared to shop lot unit perhaps taken a longer time. Of cause there are lots of other factors besides just Owl problems.
All Oil Palm Plantation estates encourage the growth of Owl in their areas. It helps them to control rodent that eat the Palm oil seeds. It is an economical way of pest control. In fact they love them so much that they build houses for the Owl to live.
So how could you totally destroy them? In the mature oil palm, Owls do really well, aided by the nest boxes scheme run by the estates - one is placed every 10 hectares - and the result is natural control of rats and other rodents that feed on oil palm fruit.
So this is one of the setbacks for Standalone in areas of Oil Palm Plantations.
Good Swiftlet Farming All. The Best is to Share! Everyone would have enough if we share!
