Last week I was invited
to visit a Swiftlet farm located in Melaka. The Swiftlet I visited had operated
for many years with unsatisfied result. Located in a Prime Bird Zone and one of
the very first few Swiftlet farms built here, why it is not doing well? There
must be something wrong somewhere.
The owner Mr.L had
invited me numerous times to visit this Swiftlet farm, but I couldn't
make it as I was not in the country. I told him I shall set a date once I am
back. I recommended him to use Love Potion Hormone Aroma and see how thing
goes. That was a couple of months ago. Last week he called me..." James
I have never seen so many birds playing in my farm before. It is
incredible" that was what he said.
Later that weekend we
meet up at 9.30am at Shah Alam and head towards Melaka.
(Some of the Swiftlet farms around this area)
( 80% of the shops here are converted in to Swiftlet farm)
( The whole stretch of Shop lots, the upper floors are Swiftlet farms).
A business center not
far from the first toll to Melaka Town. There are lots of shop lots here where
most had turned into Swiftlet farm. There are many Swiftlet farms here, but not
all are successful. As I had said ”winner takes all looser left with nothing". Building a Swiftlet farm in an area that has
lots of Swiftlet farms will not guarantee success unless you know what you
are doing.
Why this Swiftlet farm
failed? I am sure there are lots of things not done properly. Let’s find
out.
By observing from the
Swiftlet shit spots, this farm attracts lots of birds’ especially young birds.
Look at the pictures of the Roving Area. The whole walls of the roving area are
covered with fresh shits. It indicates many young birds had flown into the farm
to play and stayed for long enough to leave behind their markings. The shit
spots increased after Love Potion was sprayed onto the walls.
This Swiftlet farm had
attracted lots of birds, but how come they are not staying? This has
always puzzled me and I always like to find out as it would enrich my
knowledge.
The problem was clearly
indicated, the whole Swiftlet farm was painted with black paint. The ceilings
on top the nesting planks were not spared. Practically the whole farm is in
total darkness. I personally do not recommend Switlet farm to be painted with
black paint unless it is necessary. If needed only selected areas are painted,
but not the whole farm.
The person who built this
Swiftlet farm must have seen and learned from somewhere or someone. There is no
contrast here and it will be difficult for young Swiftlets to fly deeper into
the Nesting Areas. Evidence shows, the shit spots are concentrated at the Roving
Area. Father inside no shit spots are spotted.
If you are experience
enough you would notice this, clicking sound (echolocation) only can be heard
in dark area not bright area. To experience this go to your Swiftlet farms, do
not switch on the light stand there you will hear lots of clicking sounds from
the birds. Then switch on the florescent light where the whole farm is brighten
up, wait a while you will notice the clicking sounds slowly reduced and fade
away.
Young Swiftlets use
light to guide them to maneuver unlike older Swiftlets which use clicking
sounds (echolocation). They are yet to master the navigation in total darkness
therefore they often hang around Roving Area and if they do build nests it will
be at the bright areas. Whereas for old Swiftlets they often venture to the
darker areas as they could navigate well in total darkness. Young Swiftlets have
yet to develop the good clicking sounds (echolocation) unlike Old Swiftlets.
If you want your
Swiftlet farm to be successful and could attract large number of young Swiftlet
birds then your Swiftlet farm must have a good control of light density that
suit all....Young and Old swiftlets alike. But Mr. L Swiftlet farm doesn't offer
this. His Swiftlet farm is too dark then too bright.
Mr.L knows Swiftlets are
not flying into the Nesting Areas except the Roving. He suspected the farm is
too dark therefore he opened another Entrance Hole a 3x2’ size
expecting Swiftlets to use this new Entrance Hole. Sadly it doesn't work. The
new Entrance Hole is not their flying path. While we were at the Roving Area we
could see no Swiftlets using the new Entrance hole. They still use the old
Entrance Hole. The new opening causes more problems as the sunlight now could
penetrate directly into the farm making it too bright.
Remember the light
density must be at its best level to accommodate all Swiftlets, neither too
dark nor too bright. I guess this is the hardest to achieve..Not that it can't
be done. If you want it to be dark paint it all with black paint which many
Swiftlet farms are doing it (failed farm). If you want it to be brighter open a
bigger or more Entrance holes. Isn't it easy?
But to be perfect, neither
too dark nor too bright is not easy to achieve, unless one has in-depth
knowledge in Swiftlet farming.
Another problem was, why
all Tweeters were installed at the middle of the Nesting planks while
the corner and the side were left out? I wonder whose idea was
this. Swiftlets fly in a circle motion 1- 2 feet from the wall (flying
path) therefore it is more appropriate to have them fixed on the side. Commonly
the middle section tweeters are for surround sound purpose. Ideally Tweeters
are to be installed at the side as this is the flying path of Swiftlets. Here
you go again, if you don't understand what is flying path then how do you know where
to install the tweeters.
As I could observe all
Tweeters are not fixed below the corner boards. They are fixed about 6"-1'
away from the corner boards. It was purposely done this way. Again whose idea
was this? We are talking about fact...factual. No guessing game here. We can't
deny Swiftlets like to build nests at corners. Most first nests built in
Swiftlet farms are on top of tweeters. The tweeters work as a track and it is
much easier for young Swiftlets to perch there. That is why we use Styrofoam
nest, Satey stick, etc to work as a track.
Not having Tweeters at
the corner boards means this Swiftlet farm is preventing young Swiftlet from
built nests.
Besides that, there are
so many Vent-holes in this Swiftlet farm. The hot air from outside could easily
enter into the farm making the internal environment unstable. It is not always
more is better, it must be at equilibrium.
There are lots of
problems in this Swiftlet farm. The problem list could go on. Now it is my duty
to solve them and turn around this failed Swiftlet farm. I have to come out with
a total revamp plan for Mr.L.
During my visit I
explained to Mr.L what had caused all those problems. I even showed him how to
observe the light density, pointing the direct where one section is opened up
the other would be affected. I taught him how to observe the changes, taught
him how elaborate the findings. Guiding him from A-Z pertaining to Swiftlet
farming and future investment. It was like a one to one coaching..ha..ha...
After the visit we went
for lunch. Mr.L told me.."James, I have learned a lot today. If one
knows very little about Swiftlet behavior then how can he build a good Swiftlet
farm?".
Now he is seeing more
mistakes in farm where he once thought the builder of his farm was the best
consultant.
In many weeks to come he
will be more miserable. The more he knows the more mistakes he sees.
Well sometimes it is
better not to know too much and leave it to luck like many did.
Good Swiftlet Farming
All