PEOPLE STILL BUILD THIS KIND OF SWIFTLET FARM

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to revamp a Swiftlet farm located in the North of Perak. As far as the location concerns, this Swiftlet farm is sitting on a Swiftlets goldmine. A Prime Birds Zone, everyone would want to have a Swiftlet farm here. 

It has operated for almost 3 years now. A 3 storey 20 x 80ft  with a semi-dog kennel design.( I shall elaborate later) There are many Swiftlet farms  here in the same vicinity and all of them are doing very well . (sources: harvest of 3-5kg of nests within 5 years).

but, somehow this particular Swiftlet farm performance is really sad....

The owner Mr.Q called me while I was on my way to the Airport. I was leaving for Sandakan.

"Hi Mr. James, I am Q, I saw your blog and I am still reading it now. I hope I could finish it in a week or two. I need you help"

"Hi Mr. Q, it is good to hear that. How can I help you?"

"Mr.James, I want to invite you to visit my Farm. My Swiftlet farm is not doing well. I hope you could help to revamp it."

"Mr. Q, I suppose the design, the internal environment, sound system,etc are not properly done and managed"

"I don't think so Mr.James. As far as  I know  everything is  fine."

Are you sure Mr.Q?.......If everything is fine then you should be harvesting many kg of nests right now. Never mind let me check my itinerary first and  I will let you know next week as  I am travelling often these few months."

I only could visit Mr.Q's farm  two months later as I have to complete other revamp jobs. The owner Mr.Q had built this farm with the help of his brothers based on the information and knowledge they acquired from friends,relatives and some local so called Sifus.

It has less that 10 nests. Most birds had left after building one or two nests. The design and the Internal environment are  not swiftlet  friendly. It is poorly designed and managed. I can't blame them as they have little knowledge about swiftlet farming. Worst of all they would listen to any idea without weighing whether the idea makes sense or otherwise.

The size of the Entrance hole is less than 2x2ft. They built a mezzanine floor at the roving area which served no purpose. Reason being "we think birds like it". This has reduced the height of the ceiling and the floor to around 4ft.

Once Swiftlets fly pass the Entrance hole they have to  dive  90dg down immediately to avoid  hitting the wall. As you could see the wall is painted black. Well, it seems that this wall was created to trick the Swiftlets. If they are not careful they would bang on it.

With this tricky roving area, most Swiftlets would avoid staying in this Swiftlet farm. They know once they got in they could never get out....perhaps die inside the farm. Only those that could maneuver perfectly would survive in  this Swiftlet farm.

There are barely 20 tweeters in this Swiftlet farm. It is not surprised, people still build this kind of Swiftlet farm.  It is recommended  80 -120 tweeters for a size of 20x70ft (subjected to the planking design) .There are  no corner boards on the planks, reason Swiftlets like 90dg corner. Well if what they said it true then this Swiftlet farm should have few hundred nests by now.

The planking system is straight type design. There are no planks crossing between the straight planks. I don't buy this idea which many Sifus claimed it would produce more straight nests. Is having straight nest or having as many Swiftlets to stay is the main criteria? Which is more important? You already knew the answer.

The Ventilation holes are not attached to a PVC pipe. The light ray from the Ventilation holes brightens up the whole Swiftlet farm. In order to reduce the brightness, they painted many parts of the internal black. Hence, creating a problem, and then trying cover that problem with another problem. It never ends. The root cause is the Ventilation holes. Just attached  3-4ft PVC pipes to the Vent-holes then the problems shall be solved.

The light came from all places. Look at the above pictures. Birds would bang on it as they think that is the Entrance hole. The holes should be covered properly without allowing any light to penetrate into the farm. For those who had gone inside a successful Swiftlet to harvest nest, they know what I am talking about.  Swiftlets often hit on our headlamp. They follow the light, especially young birds.

I don't favor Interhole located at the back of the farm.

1) Birds need to fly deep inside before they could find the Interhole. This would affect the adaptation period thus, it takes a longer time for them to fly and explore the lower floor.

2) It is harder for the light to reach the lower floor thus creating a total darkness below. Often too dark young birds would avoid flying down to the lower floor.

There is no door separating the control room and the nesting area. Can you believe that? Picture tell a thousand words.

1) The neon lights from the Amplifiers would frighten birds
2) The Amplifiers are exposed to the humidity produced by the humidifier and it would damage the Amplifier.

They also placed a table fan next to the Amplifier to cool it down. This creates a movement of air in the farm. The whole internal environment is totally up sided down.

There are hundred more problems in this Swiftlet farm which I can not finish writing.

Now after seeing all those pictures it is no longer a surprise. Actual fact.....people are still building this type of Swiftlet farm. As this keep goes on .....the successful rate of Swiftlet farming will remain at 80-20. (80% failed)

I explained every single problem to Mr. Q, making sure he understands how it happened and what we are going to do to solve it.  

  It is not just plain instructions and simple explanations. I want him to understand the underlying cause, how light density, flying path, total darkness, etc can affect the internal environment of the farm and how they deter birds from staying. 

  If he understands all this he would not make any more mistakes in future. Or at least, he won't take blind advice from those so called sifus. 

  As usual, the revamp plan was given to him which covers partitioning, tweeters positioning, sound system setup, Ventilation hole adjustment, removal of walls, re-positioning of Entrance hole, etc.....many more. 

Good Swiftlet farming All!

For more information you may contact me at 012 3173811

 THE HOT WEATHER IS HERE. USE LOVE POTION TO RETAIN YOUNG                                                SWIFTLETS AND TO PREVENT MIGRATION

炎熱的天氣你應該做什麼？ HOT WEATHER WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

炎熱的天氣影響养燕行业。是的，你會看到很少的燕子在天空漫遊。人们都在抱怨他們看到很少的燕子，甚至在雨後。

養燕是農業，它不能逃避自然災害如乾旱、 洪水、 溫度和環境的變化等等。馬來西亞目前正處於由厄爾尼諾現象引起的炎熱和乾燥的天氣，而且馬來西亞氣象部門預測，這種情況只會在五月或六月结束。炎熱的天氣是由於春分現象。

燕窝的产量在每個燕屋农场已经減少。燕窝变的更小，含有更多的羽毛，形状不美等等。這是由於大氣中的濕度很低。不僅養燕受到這種現象影响，其他农作物如稻米、棕油等等也正在记錄較低的生產量。

在北方，玻璃市州一些部分地區也记錄高过40度。這將迫使燕子遷移到有較低平均溫度的地方。所以如果你看不到象以往多的燕子，在返屋时间它們可能已遷移了。

其次，食物來源稀少，昆蟲在旱季期間無法繁殖。它們需要水，水是昆蟲的生命本質。所以沒有雨意味著沒有水，沒有水就沒有昆蟲。昆蟲不能帶回足夠的食物供给後代，然而很多昆蟲就會死于饑餓。所以在此期間，在燕屋農場的地板上看到死了的小燕子是常見的。

如果燕屋農場的溫度太高这使燕子蛋不能形成。預計在此期間達到40%的燕子蛋不能形成小燕子。這些燕窝和燕子蛋在燕屋農場的较冷的地方会有較高的機會生存。

我們能做些什麼？是的，我們可以。增加燕屋農場的濕度。較長时间的喷雾器使用。這是根據每個燕屋農場的設計。每個燕屋農場都是不同的。平均，18x18尺需要一個喷雾器。操作时间也是主觀的，但是我所做的就是增长喷雾器時間，尤其是在...1-5点下午，這是最嚴重的時期。如果湿度低过60%（相對濕度%）它會影響燕窝的品質。所以請確保湿度是不斷達到75%。

可以用排氣風扇嗎？可以和不可以。如果外面的溫度是40度，然后你把排氣風扇开了會發生什麼呢？簡單的常識，空气排出去空气也流進來。40度的熱空氣將通過門的縫隙，天花板上的差距、 入口孔等流進燕屋農場、。

一个最好的方法之一是不斷穩定炎熱的天氣影響养燕行业。是的，你會看到很少的燕子在天空漫遊。人们都在抱怨他們看到很少的燕子，甚至在雨後。

養燕是農業，它不能逃避自然災害如乾旱、 洪水、 溫度和環境的變化等等。馬來西亞目前正處於由厄爾尼諾現象引起的炎熱和乾燥的天氣，而且馬來西亞氣象部門預測，這種情況只會在五月或六月结束。炎熱的天氣是由於春分現象。

燕窝的产量在每個燕屋农场已经減少。燕窝变的更小，含有更多的羽毛，形状不美等等。這是由於大氣中的濕度很低。不僅養燕受到這種現象影响，其他农作物如稻米、棕油等等也正在记錄較低的生產量。

在北方，玻璃市州一些部分地區也记錄高过40度。這將迫使燕子遷移到有較低平均溫度的地方。所以如果你看不到象以往多的燕子，在返屋时间它們可能已遷移了。

其次，食物來源稀少，昆蟲在旱季期間無法繁殖。它們需要水，水是昆蟲的生命本質。所以沒有雨意味著沒有水，沒有水就沒有昆蟲。昆蟲不能帶回足夠的食物供给後代，然而很多昆蟲就會死于饑餓。所以在此期間，在燕屋農場的地板上看到死了的小燕子是常見的。

如果燕屋農場的溫度太高这使燕子蛋不能形成。預計在此期間達到40%的燕子蛋不能形成小燕子。這些燕窝和燕子蛋在燕屋農場的较冷的地方会有較高的機會生存。

我們能做些什麼？是的，我們可以。增加燕屋農場的濕度。較長时间的喷雾器使用。這是根據每個燕屋農場的設計。每個燕屋農場都是不同的。平均，18x18尺需要一個喷雾器。操作时间也是主觀的，但是我所做的就是增长喷雾器時間，尤其是在...1-5点下午，這是最嚴重的時期。如果湿度低过60%（相對濕度%）它會影響燕窝的品質。所以請確保湿度是不斷達到75%。

可以用排氣風扇嗎？可以和不可以。如果外面的溫度是40度，然后你把排氣風扇开了會發生什麼呢？簡單的常識，空气排出去空气也流進來。40度的熱空氣將通過門的縫隙，天花板上的差距、 入口孔等流進燕屋農場、。

一个最好的方法之一是不斷穩定燕屋農場里的湿度就是放很多水桶，傳統上，人们过去已經這样做了，当喷雾器都不容易买到的时候。但是現在我們有各種各樣的喷雾机器。

喷雾机和喷水机在燕屋農場的屋頂上也可以帮助的。它會降低溫度，但是這只應該在旱季（不是雨季）操作。當炎熱的季節結束的時候應該停止。

這樣炎熱的季節的利與弊。看看光明的一面，最熱的季節也不是最坏的因为受影響的燕窝價格已經達到3倍相比前一年。 燕窩加工中心都在抱怨不足原始燕窝。

這就是如何，它把燕窝的价格推高。那些在目前收割每个月10-20公斤的人都笑着到銀行。

一個好的燕屋農場應該有應急計畫。如果意外發生和預測乾旱，洪水，怎麼辦等，不斷地準備好面對所有這些挑戰。

大家都有好燕屋農場!

需要任何建議你可與我聯繫 ︰ swifjames@yahoo.com 或 012-3173811

在炎熱的季節期間使用Love Potion来保留幼燕子。

HOT WEATHER WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

The hot weather is affecting the Swiftlet farming industry. Yes, you would see fewer birds roaming the sky. People are complaining they are seeing fewer birds, even after rain.

Swiftlet farming is agriculture, it can’t escape from Natural disaster such as drought, flood, change of temperature and environment, etc. Malaysia is now experiencing hot and dry weather caused by the El Nino phenomenon and the Malaysian Meteorological Department predicted that the situation will only end in May or June. The  hot weather was due to the equinox phenomenon.

The nests production in every Swiftlet farm has reduced. Nests are smaller, contain more feathers, poorly shaped, etc. This is due to the low humidity in the atmosphere. Not only Swiftlet farming is affected by this phenomenon, other crops like Padi, palm oil, etc all are recording lower production.

In the North, Perlis some areas recorded above 40dg. This would force Swiftlets to migrate to areas that have lower average temperature. So if you don’t see many birds as before, during homecoming they could have migrated.

Secondly, food sources are scarce, insects can’t reproduce during dry season. They need water, water is the essence of life of insects. So no rain means no water, no water means no insects. The parent unable to bring back enough food for offspring and many would die of starvation. So during this period, it is common to see dead young birds on the floors of the farm.

If the Farm temperature is too high the eggs can’t be formed. It is estimated during this period up to 40% of the eggs can't be formed into chicks. Those nests and eggs that built at the cooler part of the farm have the higher chance to survive.

Can we do something about it? Yes, we could. Increase the humidity of the farm. A longer period of humidifying. This is subject to the design of a Swiftlet farm. Every Swiftlet farm is different. Averagely, 18x18ft one humidifier is needed. Operation period is also subjective, but what I did was increase the operating time, especially during…. 1-5 pm, this is the most severe period. If the RH (humidity %) drops below 60% the quality of the nests will be affected. So make sure the Rh is constantly reaching 75%.

Could exhaust fan be used? Yes and No.If the outside temperature is 40dg and you switched on the exhaust fan what would happen? Simple common sense, what goes out must come in first. Hot air of 40dg will flow into the farm through door gaps, ceiling gaps, entrance holes, etc.

One of the best way to constantly stabilise the Rh of the farm is to have many buckets of water in it, Traditionally, people have been doing this in the past when humidifier machines were not easily available. But now we have all sorts of humidifier machines.

Mist spray and water sprinkler on the roof of the farm do help. It would reduce the temperature but this should only be operated during the dry season (not the rainy season). When the hot season is over it should be stopped.

There pros and cons of this hot season. Look at the bright side, the hot season isn't that bad because of the effect nests price has gone up 3 times compare to the year before.  Nest processing centres are complaining insufficient of raw nests.

This is how it pushes up the price of the nests. Those who are currently harvesting 10-20 kg per month are laughing to the bank.

A good Swiftlet farm should have contingency plans. What to do if the unexpected arise and anticipating the drought, flood, etc and constantly ready to face all these challenges.

Good Swiftlet farming all! 

Need any advice you may contact me at : swifjames@yahoo.com or 012-3173811

USE LOVE POTION DURING THE HOT SEASON TO RETAIN YOUNG BIRDS.