Cheap is Not The Solution!

This Bh belongs to a reader of mine Mr.T from Sarawak. He has few swiftlets farms, the 1^st one was successful and subsequently those built later don’t seem to attract many birds after many months.

He is confused and didn’t know what to do and wondering why the same design and same material used but the result was totally different.

The Temperature is 23-31dg and Rh is about 80%. The planks have fungus problem. Well from my simple observation there were many things not properly done or he had never thought of it.

Many people own successful farms without knowing the actual reason behind it. When you asked them the reasons and the things they had done that contributed to the success of their farms they are unable to answer or tell you. Most of us would thought that they are trying to hide the secret from us but the actual fact is that they themselves don’t know the reason behind it.

That is why the 1^st farm is good and the subsequent ones failed.

After observing the farm the flaws were:

1) 23-31Dg is considered very unstable environment

2) Painting the farm black

3) Too many Vent- Holes

4) Small pillars in farm

5) Too few Ext Tweeters

6) Too few Tweeters at second –hole

7) Wrong formation of Inter-Tweeters (all face one side)

8) Wall insulation is a problem

9) Using water as a means to cool down farm (water is for RH purposes not Cooling down)

10) Entrance-hole too near the wall

11) Farm design failed (sorry can’t show the design here as requested by the owner)

12) Many more……

Mr.T may have achieved what he wanted “Cost” but at the end the farm doesn’t attract birds.

What is the point of having an extremely cheap farm which is not conducive enough for birds to stay and make nests? It’s equivalent to dumping the money in to a river.

There are many Swiftlet farms like this mushrooming everyday that is why the failure rate is going up.

Of cause not all cheaply built farms are not successful, there are quite handfuls of extremely cheap farms that are successful but most of them have very good internal control.

Good Swiftlets Farming All! Best is to Advise and Share.

The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.
Theodore Roosevelt

越来越艰难

是越来越艰难要拥有一個成功的燕屋農場从Mersing的W先生说。4年前他開始了4個燕屋農場，全部都做的不错除了2个比较迟开始的燕屋農場。

全部都是由他自己修造和有他朋友的帮忙。

「James,我跟了同一個設計，用了同一样的材料，使用同一個燕屋農場的小配件和同樣設備，它不像我及早修建的那些燕屋農場吸引許多燕子？」

「James溫度是好的大概是28度左右， 湿度平均大约85% ......等等」。

「我幾乎没有看見燕子屎在操作了3个多月的时间。 請给我您的意见？」

我告诉了Wong先生，隨着時間的推移會变的更加艰难的因为每天都有許多新的燕屋農場。

明顯地，有很大量的不成功的燕屋農場，但是也有许多被修造的燕屋農場是完全瞭解外部和内部环境的一些。 這些好的燕屋農場被建造来吸引從那些現有的燕屋農場的燕子。 再也不像以前那样被修造来养燕子。

「W先生，他們在這里吸引了從您的燕屋農場所有的幼燕子….哈. .哈。 」

很明白的，那些燕屋農場被修造在有大量綠色的區域，远离工業化活動，沒有許多燕屋農場在周围的那些將有更高的機會会成功。

所以，看許多去乡区建造燕屋農場不是很普通的。 就讲一些地方名字，在馬來西亞和泰國之間的邊界(Jeli、Pengkalan Hulu， K.Nerang等等)。

通常這些區域不會有很大的競爭，但并不是绝對没有競爭。 一個適當地建造好的燕屋農場,有到達超过100个燕窝在第一年是很普通的。

因此，地點是很重要的，其此，外部和内部环境也是同樣重要的。 您可以安排完善的建造燕屋農場，但是，如果地點是差的然而它也是無用的。

另一种是在那些便宜和容易獲取的產业，沒有经营活动，和被放棄的商店全部被修改成燕屋農場。 通常这些商店是便宜的，但是他們也有很多問題。 竊賊和競爭，因為它是便宜的所有任何人都可以買的起。 所以整排的商店都变成燕屋農場並且創造了競爭。

整排的商店只有1或2個燕屋農場奪取70-80%的燕子，其他70-80%的燕屋農場分享那其余20%的燕子。 除非这些商店是位于一個非常偏僻的區域和有很多燕子食物。

因此，當您想要修造或擁有燕屋農場时，肯定您瞭解外部和内部環境。 不要太快。 必须觀察和學會先。

大家有好的燕屋農場。 最好的东西是和大家分享的。

Harder and Harder

It is harder and harder to own a successful Swiftlet farm cited Mr. W of Mersing. He has 4 farms which he had started 4 years ago all are doing well except 2 which started later.

All were built by him assisted by his friends.

“James I had followed the same design, used the same material, used the same swiftlet gadget and the same equipments yet it doesn’t attract many birds like those farms that I had built earlier?”

“James the temperature is good average about 28c, the Rh average about 85%......and so on.”

“I hardly see birds dropping after 3 months of operation. Could you please advice?”

I told Mr. Wong, it would be even harder as time goes by with many new farms coming up every day.

Obviously there would be great number of unsuccessful farms but there are also some which are built perfectly that understood the external and internal environment. These good farms are built to attract birds from those existing farms. There are no longer built to rare Swiftlets like those early days.

“Mr. W, They are here to capture all the young birds from your farm....ha..ha.. ”

It is understood that a Swiftlet farm that built in an area with plenty of green away from industrialize activities that has not many Swiftlet farms would have higher chance to be successful.

Therefore it is uncommon to see many going to rural areas to built swiftlet farm. To name a few, places like the border between Malaysia and Thailand (Jeli, Pengkalan Hulu, K.Nerang,etc).

Often these areas would have less competition but not absolutely no competition. It is common to see a properly good built farm to reach more than 100 nests in the first year.

So location plays a part, therefore both External and internal environment are equally important. You could have the perfect farm built but the location is poor then it is useless.

Another one is building Swiftlet farms in those cheap and easily acquired properties, the abandoned shop lots which have no business activities. Often these types of shop lots are cheap but they come with problems. Thief and competition, since it is cheap anybody could afford to buy it. Therefore the whole roll turned into Swiftlet farms and created competition.

Out of the whole roll of farms 70-80% of birds are captured by 1 or 2 farms the rest 70-80% of the farms share the 20% of birds. Unless these rolls of shop lots are located in a very secluded area that have good vegetation.

So when you want to build or own a Swiftlet farm make sure you take understand the Ext and Inter environment. Don’t rush into it. Observes and learn first.

Good Siwftlet farming All. The Best Is to Share!

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冀保留6月前燕屋 公會促放寬執照條例

中国报 27-Dec-2010

報導：呂慧萍

（巴生26日訊）雪州燕窩商公會促請雪州政府放寬基本條例，以保留在今年6月前設立的燕屋，并提供足夠的時間讓業者改善缺點，以免業者蒙受虧損。

雪州燕窩商公會認同州政府在引燕指南出爐前，明年起發出為期6個月的臨時引燕執照，以有效管制引燕領域。

但是，公會希望地方政府處理臨時引燕執照申請時能放寬基本條件，特別是保留在今年6月前便設立的燕屋。

避免業者虧損

雪州燕窩商公會顧問李培南指出，業者申請臨時執照，需符合一些基本條件，包括燕屋必須與宗教膜拜場所、住宅區和餐館有一定距離。

他告訴《中國報》，一些地方的燕屋確實面對同樣問題，但該公會月前與州政府對話時，已要求州政府保留在今年6月前設立的燕屋。

“如果這些燕屋不符合標準，州政府可以要求他們改進，但不要下令他們搬遷，因為燕屋根本不能搬遷。”

李培南指出，業者辛苦打造燕屋環境引燕，如果強制要他們搬，將讓業者蒙受損失。

“每一間燕屋的成本為1萬5000零吉至3萬令吉不等，并不是每間燕屋都能成功引燕。”

他說，州政府發出6個月的臨時執照是好事，至少指南出爐后，擁有臨時執照者將獲優先權。

“公會在全國引燕指南出爐后，曾與州政府對話，當時大臣表示需時研究，有關指南是否適用于雪州。”

他認為，雪州引燕指南有必要儘快推出，讓業者有所參照，合法化營業。

投資失敗率達70%

燕屋投資失敗率高達70%，雪州燕窩商公會希望指南出爐后，能降低投資風險。

李培南舉例，每10間燕屋中，有7間燕屋投資失敗，公會希望指南出爐后，能有效管制燕屋數量，減少投資者的風險。

他指出，一些行外人士因聽取顧問公司的錯誤引導，結果設立的燕屋無法引來燕子，但已繳付顧問費，損失不少。

“我們不希望讓投資者蒙受損失，若有指南參照，可能降低這方面的風險。”

為私利亂設立

雪州引燕指南未出爐，部分業者只顧本身利益，毫無法紀設立燕屋，不僅影響市民生活，也破壞同業聲譽。

李培南說，君子愛財取之以道，公會提倡會員在不影響市民生活下設立燕屋，但是因未有指南，一些業者因此為所欲為，結果惹來市民不滿。

“我們要賺錢，前提是不影響他人生活，畢竟普通市民人數多過引燕業者，必須顧及其他人。”

指南未出爐執法陷兩難

引燕指南未出爐，巴生市議會執法陷兩難。

巴生市議員林立選指出，市議會常接獲市民投訴，指燕屋影響生活，但指南未出爐，令市議會執法時面對問題。

他接受《中國報》訪問時說，因為沒有一個指南可以參照，市議會無法採取行動下令業者關閉燕屋，只能開出傳票。

“一般上，我們只能以違例使用建築物、製造噪音和不符合衛生標準等罪名，發出傳票。”

他指出，一些業主接獲傳票后，問題依然沒有改善，以致投訴者誤會市議會辦事不率，事實上，市議會是有心無力。

他說，市議會目前還在等著州政府推出引燕指南，以更有效的管制引燕業。

雪5000燕屋收益4億

投資引燕業有利可圖，雪州境內至少擁有5000間燕屋，每年帶來4億令吉的收益。

李培南透露，該公會目前共有300多名成員，會員燕屋約有逾千間。

他說，全雪州目前共有逾5000間燕屋，其中約30%是來自外州的投資。

他指出，全馬引燕業每年的收益為20億令吉，保守估計，雪州5000間燕屋每年的收益，佔其中的20%，即4億令吉。

六角形高音揚聲器杆的高度.

什麼是一臺六角形高音揚聲器杆的理想的高度呢？ 這是一個经常被问的問題，並且我發現有許多仍然懷疑關於它適當的高度。

它真的是有關吗？ 是的。 如果杆是太高的话，燕子大多將集中在那儿，而没有想要进入燕屋農場。 通常您會看到許多燕子飞來，但是只有少量會进入燕屋農場。

随后，如果杆是太短的那就沒有真正的有效的運用到六角形高音揚聲器。六角形的高音揚聲器越是被安置的越低，它的聲音就不会到達远的地方。

杆的高度3-5 ft是够好的，那也取决于所有在燕屋農場的結構或入口孔的附近。 杆必須是坚硬的，以便它不會搖晃，當有强风的时候。 當它搖晃时燕子会不喜欢它們的。

有許多类型的六角形高音揚聲器，一些是可以在商店找到 的，但是它也可以是DIY的，如果您是有好手藝的话。

標準是，它必须是耐久的，因為它是高在屋頂上，並且您是不會經常上去那裡的，並且上屋頂是不容易的。

最重要它必须一定是防水的。 這全靠它如何被制造的。 這裡它需要有一点聰明的想像力，雨、陽光、風等等的後果。 但是90%DIY的那些都不能维持超过3個月。

最常見看到的那些是他們把高音揚聲器直接地被固定(釘牢) 在一塊木板上，那个木板是從垃圾堆里拾到的。 然后釘牢了石棉片在它的頂部。 在经过几长的雨和晒之后，那个石棉片已經被風吹走了，只留下高音揚聲器暴露在雨淋和日晒之下。

您不會惊奇看用十几万修造的燕屋農場只是使用這样的六角形高音揚聲器(石棉片)。邏輯在哪裡？

因此，如果您要對DIY必须确定它可能维持至少2年。

大家有好的燕屋農場。 最好的东西是和大家分享的。

如果您能想像它，您能創造它。 如果您能梦到它，您能成為它。William Arthur Ward

Tel ： James 012-3173811

Licenses Will this Materialize? 執照会實現吗？

Temporary licences for swiftlet farms

By ELAN PERUMAL
Star.com.my

OPERATORS of swiftlet farms in Selangor have been asked to apply for temporary licences from their respective local authorities.

The Selangor Government has decided to legalise swiftlet farms in a temporary move while awaiting the standard guidelines to be ready.

State local government committee chairman Ronnie Liu said they were finalising the details of the licensing conditions.

He said the standard guidelines would be ready in six months.

He added that the move was necessary for the local authorities to collect licensing fee from the operators.

“The swiftlet operators have been operating farms without paying any form of licensing fees and this has resulted in a loss of income for the local authorities.

“Now, the local authorities will be able to get some revenue from the swiflet breeders.

“We are also working closely with the Veterinary Department on the details of the licensing conditions,’’ he said.

Liu said applications from those operating at high-density areas, including towns, would not be entertained.

“However, consideration will be given to those who are operating at remote areas,’’ he said.

The Height of the Pole of the Hex Tweeter.

What is the Ideal height of the pole of a Hexagonal tweeter? This is a commonly asked question and I still find many have doubted about the appropriate height.

Does it matter? Yes it does. If the pole is too high most of the birds would concentrate playing at the Hex without making afford to enter the farm. Often you would see many birds come to play but few would enter the farm.

Subsequently if the pole is to short then the effectiveness of the Hex tweeter is not being utilized. The lower the Hex tweeter being placed the sound from it would not reach far.

A pole height of 3-5 ft would be good depends on any structure around the farm or the entrance hole. The pole has to be stiff so that it wouldn’t wobble when there is strong wind. When it wobbles birds hate them.

There are many types of Hex tweeters, some are available in shops and it can be DIY if you are good in handicraft.

The criteria is, it must be made long lasting because it is high on the roof and you won’t be going up there often and it is not easy to go up to the roof.

Most important it must be water resistant. This depended on how it’s being made. Here it needs one intelligent to imagine the consequences of the rain, sunshine, wind, etc. But 90% of those that DiY couldn’t last more than 3 months.

Most commonly seen ones are those that the tweeters are fixed (nailed) directly onto a piece of wood they picked up from the rubbish bin. Then nailed a piece of asbestos on top of it. After few seasons of rain and shine the asbestos already blow away by the wind leaving the tweeters exposed to the rain and the sun.

You won’t be surprised to see Swiftlet farms that cost ten of thousand to build are using such Hex tweeters (asbestos). Where is the logic?

So if you want to Diy make sure it could last at least 2 years.

Good Swiftlet Farming All. Sharing is the Best.

If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you dream it, you can become it.
William Arthur Ward

Tel: James 012-3173811