I received a call from a Swiftlet farmer who wants to share
some of his Swiftlet farming knowledge with me. Well I am happy to share, teach and whoever
wants to learn they are always welcome. Furthermore, I have taught many readers,
and many of them have become very successful in Swiftlet farming.
This particular farmer I have spoken with wanted to share
something he considers successful, and
he thinks he got lots to offer me.
Hi James I am Mr.L from Sabah. How are you?
Hi Mr.L I am fine. Have we met before?
No, James, this is
the first time I call you and I want to share some ideas with you maybe we can
learn from each other.
Oh..sure why not. So what do you want to share with me?
I build Small Swiftlet farms James. I have 3 Swiftlet farms.
The first one started about about 5 years ago, the second one 3 years and the
latest one about 1 and a half years old.
That is great… you must be doing very well since you have 3
Swiftlet farms.
Ok.. lah James so..so only..I had many years of experience
already. I also build Swiftlet farm for friends and relatives. The small
swiftlet farm idea is very good.
Wow that is great. So the first Swiftlet farm you built 5
years ago must have at least few thousand nests?
No, so lah James.
Why no…? Then how many nests?..... if you don’t mind to tell me Mr.L.
The first one has 80 nests, the second one 20 nests and the
third one currently has 10 nests. That is why I call you to share ideas.
(My God this guy is one fine classic Swiftlet farmer. I was
shocked. Obviously I didn’t tell him this. What is there to share with him. A 5
years farm in Sabah should have at least few thousand nests. He is a totally
failed Swiftlet farmer).
Mr.L, do you know that your farm is not performing well? I
suppose there must be something wrong some where that you may have not noticed.
I don’t think so James. The temperature is good the humidity
is good all are under control. Maybe the birds need time. I have attended many
seminars locally and in Indonesia. I know quite a lot about Swiftlet farming.
( Well I am not surprised. I have met many Swiftlet farmers
like Mr.L. You will be surprised how many Swiftlet farmers actually know about
Swiftlet farming).
Mr.L .. To be frank with you.. Your Swiftlet farms have big problems. I can’t say much without seeing the farms. Perhaps you
could show me some pictures or provide me with the Farms’ dimension.
Oh yes James, the size of my Swiftlet farms are 26x36 ft, a
3 storey stand alone. It is a very good design. The only setback was
occasionally I see dead small birds on the lower floor. My friends also have
the similar type of farm. He told me that he noticed, once the young birds
leave the farm they never come back. But I didn’t notice that in my farm. Do
you know why Mr.James?
Mr.L where the hell you learn to build such farm.. especially
the design?
Oh I learned from books and seminars that I had attended. Is
there anything wrong Mr.James?
I can’t comment much on this because it is a very sensitive
issue which affect those who “cari makan” but I could tell you a little about
the size problem. Common sense will tell you a 26x36 ft size is like a chimney
or a lift shaft. That means the birds have to dive vertically in order to get
in. Moreover for a 3 storey, this pushes the angle further to almost vertical. Swiftlets
don’t like to fly vertically. You don’t have to believe
what I said go and look at the birds in the sky. See how they glide you would
know what I mean. Swiftlets are gliders they roam the sky by gliding to save
energy as they need to fly all day. There are not like other birds which could
perch in trees, building, etc.Therefore a farm design that forces them to dive vertically often ended being a
failed farm.
Ohhh…I see Mr.James…but there is Swiftlet farm
not far away which has the same design is doing very well? It has got about 50 nests in 9 months.
That is not a lot Mr.L…. … there are things you
may not know. What is the actual size of the small farm you call “doing very
well”.
James the size is 16x26 ft…. but it is a 2 storey building.
Ah ya.. Mr. L.. of course that the farm is different. Do you
know why it is different?
No..James.
A 2 storey farm reduces the vertical angle more
compared with a 3 storey farm.
Oh I see James..no wonder his farm got more birds.
Mr.L you are one daring guy..ha? You dare to build farms for
other people ha?
Ai ya ..James people ask me to build so I build lah.....ha..ha...
With the information from Mr.L it indicates his farm design
has many flaws. Being a 26x36 size I wonder how the farm could control the
light density effectively.
The minimum roving size needed for birds to fly freely
without any obstruction is 12 x 12 ft ( the best is 12x 16-20). Of course some
may argue that there are successful farms by the size of 20x20ft . Try to do
that now you may end up not even having bird shits. Those were the days where
Swiftlet farms were few perhaps a whole town or a kampong only has 2 or 3
farms.
If the roving has taken 12 ft what left is only 24f. What
about the second partition which is a must
to reduce the glare which will take-up another 12 ft. The remainder
would be 12f for the nesting area.
It really doesn’t
make sense where one spent so much money to build a stand alone ended up only
having 12f length for the nesting areas.
Isn’t that ……..silly?
Too small of a farm making it harder to control the micro.
In other words the nesting area is very near the exit exposing it to the
drought air. Often nests from such farm would not produce good quality nests.
I have sketched out a picture comparing a 2 storey and
a 3 storey small farm. It would
help you to understand why the 2 storey has better advantages. It is not the
size it is how the angle that affects the internal and birds flying path.
Don’t be mistaken that a 3 storey is inferior to a 2 storey
that is totally wrong perception. It is all about how it is being designed to
accommodate good flying path.
If a taller building is to be built it has to be 60ft in
length as to accommodate the roving and light density.
After talking with Mr.L for a while I told him that he
should learn more about his own farm before building it for his friends. It's
hard to swallow but that is the reality.
DON'T WASTE TIME WAITING FOR BIRDS & NESTS. USE LOVE POTION YOU WILL SEE THE DIFFERENCE. BIRDS WILL COME and NESTS WILL INCREASE.
