I met up with a Reader from Penang while visiting a friend’s farm in B.Mertajam. Mr. O from Penang had called me earlier. He wanted me to visit his new 3 storey standalone Swiftlet farm in Prai.
I told him that I could only do that after I have finished with my visit at B.M. Mr.O insisted that I visit his farm the next day because he wanted to switch on the sound as soon as possible. The farm is completed and ready for operation. He wants me to have a look at it before he switches on the sound.
To me it is kind a weird. What am I there for since the farm is already completed? Furthermore I am not the one who builds and designs it.
He drove all the way to B.M to see me that night to talk about his new completed farm and wanted me to give some tips about how to manage it and to see if all the set-ups are correct.
“Mr.James I want you to have a look at my farm before I switch on the sound. Could you come over tomorrow since you are in B.M.”
“Mr.O, I would try but no obligation. If I could finish my work early I will give you a call. Anyway what is that you want me to have a look at your new farm? Isn’t your contractor will take care of the farm?”
“I want you to check and see whether my contractor has done the right thing”.
“ Mr.O, If your contractor has not done the right thing then what would you do? I’m sure you have confident in your contractor before you engaged him”.
“James, as the construction goes on when I ask him many questions about Swiftlet farm he seems unable to answer me. I doubted his ability. Since he already started the construction works must well complete it”.
“Mr. O, my suggestion is that I shouldn’t visit your farm”.
“Why James. Why are you reluctant to visit my farm ?”
“Mr. O Let me ask you a question if you could answer me then I will visit your farm”. If I visited your farm and discovered that the whole set up and the design of the farm is totally faulty what would you do?
“If I discovered the whole planking system is out and it has to be removed and installed again, if the wiring and the tweeter arrange is out that could not attract birds and has to be removed and install again”.
“If the inter-hole is placed wrongly and has to be patched up and open a new one at the opposite site and so on would you do as what I suggested?”
“ Wah, Mr. James so many things ah…ah…
“ Mr.O , that is not many things it could be more or worst”. So do you still want me to see your farm? Mr.O the farm had already completed. My suggestion is that just start the sound and see how is the results. If there are no bird’s shits in few months time then it is a problem.
“Wah James, I didn’t know about that.”
That is what I directly told Mr.O. There is nothing to hide. Somehow he just has to face the reality. There are many Swiftlet farmers facing the same situation building a dream farm and later to discover the dream farm is a night mare.
To do a good swiftlet farm it starts from the beginning, from location selection to planking formation. It has to be good from the start until end. Not a single section or part is faulty.It is not something you build first then only solve the problem later whe
n it arise (Belakang kira). One should anticipate what would arise and what the consequences are. Even when designing one has to take consideration of many factors when he decides to put the entrance hole on the left or the right side. Either side has its advantages and disadvantages. When we understand this we would be able to take advantage of it.
Good Swiftlet farming All!
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