Last week I was at the North visiting a land clearing as my reader wanted to build a standalone.It was a good place with many birds’ activities. While I was there I have observed many new swiftlet farms with the so call New Duo Entry.
My contractor told me now it is the trend, where everybody is following it. I wonder in Swiftlet farming is it all about trend and fashion or realistically to have nests in the farm that could be sold to generate income.
The New Duo Entry is a combination of Dk & Or ( Dog Kennel & Open Roof). Reason being is to maximize both advantages of the Dk & Or. To those who had chosen this type of design considered it a superior design that is flawless. How could it be wrong as the birds have 2 choices to choose from?
Don’t be too happy thinking that the Duo Entry would solve the entire headache of choosing the right type of entrance. Sincerely it doesn’t and there are setbacks.
I called it the Uncertain or Unsure decision. A good designer would have anticipated what the birds like and build a Dk or an Or to suit the birds but not a Duo Entry. I could clearly see that if one is unsure he would opt for a Duo Entry. It is very much of solving the designer’s problem rather than the bird’s problems.
Are there any limitations of having a Duo Entry? Certainly yes!.
In daytime birds are guided by light. Having Duo entry would lead them flying in from one entrance and flying out from the other. This would prolong the adaptation time and it makes them to fly many times to get used to the Farm. (Takes longer period to stay and make nests)
Unless the Swiftlet farm is very big then it may need more than one entrance otherwise stick to one type of entrance.
Duo opening also causes movement of air that affects the micro. Poor micro wouldn’t attract birds to make nests.
The control of light density inside the Bh is another problem. Huge opening and more openings mean more light. To counter this many resorted to putting up partitioning this restricted the flying path of the birds. Secondly some may paint the farm black to reduce the light density but painting it black is not advisable unless you know the amount of black tone needed.
And more …….
These are my factual opinions and definitely no guessing game. Swiftlet farming is all about fact not trend or myth. Don’t forget you are in the Swiftlet farming industry not fashion industry. Trend won’t work in Swiftlet farming.
Good Swiftlet Farming All
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