Different Ways of Seeing And Solving Swiftlet Farm's Problems

Last week I was asked to visit a friend’s Swiftlet farm located in Selangor about 35 km from where I live. This Swiftlet farm had been operating for more than 2 years , and the result was not impressive. He wants my opinion as different people might have a different way of seeing and solving problems. He has good Swiftlet farming skills and had built quite numbers of successful Swiftlet farms. But when it comes to this one he surrendered. In fact, he had wanted me to visit this Swiftlet farm since Aug  2012 , but I had delayed it and finally I made it a point to do this last week.

The end of 2012 was not good for me. I had lost my Mobile phone, all my contact numbers were gone. There were thousands of telephone numbers in my phone only a quarter were back up and saved in the Sim card. So for those that I didn’t call or Sms to wish them Merry X’mas and Happy New Year I wish to convey my sincere apologies.

                                                                  ( Beautiful view)

The location of this Swiftlet farm is considered fair. (Another friend of mine has one here, currently it is doing quite well). It is a 3 storey shop lot, there are many shop lots here , but only a handful was converted into Swiftlet farm. I guess because not many people knew about this place, or they are law abiding citizen. But is there a clear and transparent regulatory governing this Swiftlet farming industry? (Beside banning export) Well it has been umpteen years somehow there were still no clear cut regulation and restriction, what we can do or what we cannot do. Well I don’t want to go into that, I guess most of you know what I mean.

This is a good place for Swiftlet farming if convenience is the priority. Of course, this area cannot be compared to those areas like the Northern Perak, the East Coast, etc to name a few. But 45 minute drive is the advantage , and you could visit it a few times a month if you wish unlike those that need 4 to 5 hours drive. I had been in this industry long enough to understand , and travelling is a setback. Unless you are 100% retired or 100% concentrated on just one or two swiftlet farms.

( There are plenty of units here waiting to be converted into Swiftlet farm. Why choose an Eco park?)

Let's get back to the Swiftlet farm that I had visited, the 2 upper floors were converted into Swiftlet farm favoring Open roof design. I would opt for a Dog kennel if I were to design it since there is no residential housing here.

The micro control was good, 28 C on a hot sunny day at 2pm and the humidity about 75% (acceptable). Well for most there shouldn’t be any problem with this Swiftlet farm. But how come the birds are not staying and not making nests. There must be something wrong somewhere. Now the question lies on how to find the hidden problems and rectify them. In order to do this I have to be observant and sharp.

                                                                           ( Owl shit)

I walked around, looking up from the 2^nd floor to the 3rd floor, I was observing the darkness of the farm. I could notice that there are more Birds shits on the 2nd floor than on the 3rd floor. This indicated that the light density was the problem, my friend must have thought that the brighter the better. ( which most books had indicated). Well it has to be in balance neither too bright nor too dark. I advised him to erect some partitions to reduce glare and at the same time to prevent the movement of air. The open roof design tends to allow air to move freely into the Swiftlet farm which disliked by birds.

                                              ( Staircase as Inter hole. I don't do this)

Secondly I discovered some big patches of white shit near the roving area. This is not a good sign, it is Owl shits. Owls must have visited this Swiftlet farm no wonder this Swiftlet farm is not performing well. There were no Owl spikes near the second entrance hole. The Owl finds it too easy to come into this Swiftlet farm. He has to solve this predator problem, or his Swiftlet farm is dead.

Besides that there were too many light points coming through the gaps of doors, also the gaps between partitions and wall, etc. It has created a dark environment with many small glaring lights that confused the birds especially young birds. I am sure many of you had experienced birds crashing into your flashlight when you were inside the farm. Young birds rely very much on their sight than hearing. That is why this is happening, therefore if the Swiftlet farm has many light points which I called it, I am sure this would make the birds crash into it.

  

                                         ( The left and right side should have tweeters)

The Tweeters arrangement was not good as there were too few tweeters in the nesting area. The tweeters were also not installed in the important locations which is the flying route of the birds especially at both sides of the nesting areas. He knew that , but he didn’t do it. Well, we sometimes tend to get lazy when we have too many Swiftlet farms.

After the inspection, we went to a nearby restaurant to have lunch and to further discuss the things that needed to be done. I hope he understands my explanation on why this particular Swiftlet farm is not performing well.

Good Swiftlet farming All!