How often does one needs to check the Bh? This is a question commonly asked by many readers. It’s all depended on the Bh itself, whether it is a new Bh, old one or a very successful one.
Let’s start with new Bh, those that are just completed and just started their sounds.
For newly build Bhs, frequent visiting wouldn’t be good as it frighten birds that come in to the Bh. It takes a very brave bird to flying into the Bh of total new environment with all those unfamiliar routes, unpleasant cement smell, etc. It takes time for them to adapt to this new environment sometimes averagely 6 months or more.
If the Bh is being frequently visited 1 to 2 times a week or even more which I knew many are doing it. It would do harm than good to the Bh especially new Bh.
There were many cases where Bh owners complained to me that after opening the sound for 2 months he see no birds flying into Entrance hole anymore . Claiming previously the first week there were hundreds of birds flying in and out. The first thing I suspected was these owners of the Bhs must have been visiting the Bhs often. I have met up with many owners that are facing the same problems and one of the encounters was with M. H from Selidi, Johor.
“ Mr.James the first week I open the sound many birds come and play. They fly in and out of the Entrance hole. After 1 month I don’t see them anymore. What happened?”
“ Mr.H, I am sure that this is your first Bh. And you are so excited and wanting to know, whether the birds had stayed? You want to know which parts of the farm the fly to. You also want to know whether the tweeter or sound is perfectly installed at the right places and so on. Therefore you visit you farm at least few times a week because you are uncertain about all the things that have been done.”
“Mr.James, you are dam right lah! I visit my farm at least 2 times a week to check out. How come you know all these? Wah you can read peoples mind ah?
“No Mr. H, because I have seen and met too many people like you.”
For new Bh after everything has been completed and the sound switched on the best is to visit once every 1 months. When visiting new Bh make sure you do not bring too many people to the Bh. The Bh is not a restaurant. During this time you should have a check list of things that needed to be observed and done. Once you have completed your task you have to leave the Bh immediately. Don’t spend your time looking around and walking around you could do that later at the Park.
There are some owners that spend many hours inside the Bh. They even brought foods inside and smoke. They do all sorts of thing that you couldn’t imagine this make the situation worst.
The best time to check the new Bh is from 10.00am to 2.00pm. During this time you could spray the Aroma (Love Potion). Delay the visit if it is a raining day. The best is on a hot day.
Things to check:
1) The Amps (whether it’s running well/ overheating. Switch it off and on again)
2) Tweeters (check all segregated section. See any sections is not working)
3) Birds droppings (How many spots and where there are. This would indicate whether the flying path is correct or otherwise)
4) The Humidity and temperature
5) All timers (some timers may not work after 1 month)
6) Leakage from piping joints.
7) Check the volume of the Amp
8) Check any pest. (Cockroaches, Ants.etc) poison them
9) Any extra ordinary big patches of dropping (Owl).
10) After all completed and rectified then you can spray the Aroma. Once finished spraying the Aroma (Love Potion) you may leave the Bh .
Jot down in a notebook what you have done on every visit so that you could compare the findings. The number of Birds Shit spot is important. Its indicate how many birds that have visited the Bh and stayed.
Don’t visit your Bh every week or every other day. Obviously it makes you happier to see your achievement when you are inside your own Bh. But the end result would be disastrous if you can’t control your Swiftlet farming urge.
Good Swiftlet Farming All. The Best is To Share.