Accidental Experiment of Meranti Nesting Planks.

The result of a research and experiment helps us to make the right decision. Often people make decisions based on what they heard not what they had experienced. Over the years I had worked with many Meranti suppliers, to be honest through my experiences I know who is reliable and who is not. I can assure you if you have no knowledge about timber, wood, and the process of downstream, you cannot differentiate which type of woods is good for Nesting plank and which type is not suitable.

Bringing you to their Sawmills for a tour wouldn’t guarantee that you are on the right track of getting good Meranti wood. There are so many species of Meranti, some can be used as Nesting Plank while others deter Swiftlets from making nests. Some could resist termite and some could be  the favorite foods of termite. Surprisingly they both may look the same.

I have written about how to choose good Meranti wood as Nesting Plank in my previous articles, and I am not going to repeat, perhaps you could search the old post if you want to.

A  month ago I had brought back a box full with samples of Nesting planks of different type of Meranti woods. Inside the box,  there were some different sizes of corner boards and Nesting planks which had been cut into small pieces. It was given by many Meranti suppliers as samples.

It also includes those Merantis that I have been using and some from newer Meranti suppliers.

Last month there were some leakages in the toilet of my Showroom / warehouse where I put all these samples and other things. The whole floor was flooded, so I  brought the box home and put it in my garage temporarily. I had almost forgotten about it until a reader called me up. He wanted to buy some Meranti for his soon to be Swiftlet farm.

To my horror the whole carton box was infested with termites as you could see in the pictures. Before opening the box I swore ….. *^%$%#@...Oh no! Here gone all my samples.

I opened up the box, and as you could see clearly not all planks were eaten up by the Termite only some. In that box,  there are Dark red Meranti, Dark brown Meranti, Pink Meranti, Meranti Kepong, Yellow Meranti to name a few. This goes for the corner board as well.

Think about it, It is not that bad. The Termite had done a good job. They had actually helped me to do an experiment which I believe that had never been done before. It is a research showed different types of Meranti had different resistant to Termite attack. Now it’s  indicated which Meranti planks from which suppliers can withstand termite and which Meranti planks cannot.

I really thank the Termite for this. From here it had clearly indicated that  the Dark brown Meranti is superior to many other Merantis. This is the Dark Brown Meranti which I had written in my previous article before. I am happy that all my Swiftlet farms are using them as Nesting Plank.

The sad thing about it is……it is not easily available in the Market now. The Pink Meranti and those that had the white stripe on it are Termite favorite. The lighter color ones are prone to Termite attack. Also, the light wood is their favorite. The light Red Meranti wasn’t spared. Only the Dark Brown survived the Termite attack.

My advice is, don’t gamble away with Merantis that are prone to Termite attack. You have spent your life saving on this investment. If Termite infested the Planks that will be  the end of your Swiftlet farm.

                                            (Termites looking for their favorite woods on the left)

                                                 ( Soft Carton box is their favorite)

 ( Termites had already eaten deep into the light colored corner boards but the crescent one which is Dark Brown is untouched)

(This Dark brown  is not their favorite)

                                  (Thousands of them inside this box of different types of Meranti)

                                                              ( This is what it looks like inside)

                   ( Comparison of different types of Meranti. On the Left are the most commonly used by Swiftlet farms.On the Right is the Dark brown. Don't mistaken it as Red.)

                                                      ( Termites not interested in this Meranti)

                                                    ( A Dark Brown Corner board untouched)

                                                   ( The Red Meranti half eaten up)

   ( 90% of Swiftlet farm is using the above ones. Only 10% is using the below one. After cleaning up there are no traces of termite holes and damage on the Dark Brown Meranti below).

So be sure what you are using. Don't let people fool you  by saying " Ah Ya..all planks are the same lah". "This light pink is also good Meranti what".

Bear in mind you are the Swiftlet farm owner they are not. If your Swiftlet farms failed you lose they don't.

There are many out there selling 3-5th graded Meranti claiming them as Dark brown and Dark red Meranti. Anyway you couldn't tell the different........what is Meranti and what is not Meranti. Am I right? Now you know why I insisted on good wood as Nesting Plank. The pictures above with the help of those wonderful Termites tell tales.

Good Swiftlet farming All!