雨季和濕度 MONSOON and HUMIDITY

雨季已經開始了。每一天都在下雨。在一些州屬甚至沒有停止過。一些低的地區被水淹了。那些位於這種地區的燕屋農場都受到影響。

在這段時期濕度是其最高的水準。對於那些在燕屋農場有經驗的人，他們將重新調整噴霧器的設置。有些會完全把它關掉。任何高過95%度的濕度會影響燕窩的品質。燕窩會變淡黃色和長期暴露在高濕度的燕窩一些可能會變褐色。

不只燕窩受到影響，整個内部環境（屋內）都受到影響。幼小的燕子可能會死亡和燕子蛋也可能無法被孵化和病死率都會變得很高。

由於這種不利的內部環境，燕子會搜索新的燕屋農場為家。

一個更好的內部環境會吸引一大批燕子。因此，在雨季期間追蹤記錄您燕屋農場的溫度流動和濕度是很重要的。

這就是好燕屋農場管理被需要的時候。什麼是良好的燕屋農場管理？好的燕屋農場管理是， 一個有系統，對改變很一致和調整小用具來影響燕屋農場裏的內部條件以便適合燕子居留和作燕窩。

有多少人會這樣做？往往很多人會等到雨季過去。原因...在這段期間沒有什麼好做得。（是的，有很多事情是您可以做的)

很多事情可能會發生在這段時間。最大的恐懼是燕子離開我們的燕屋農場...尋找一個更好的燕屋農場(更好的內部環境)也就是燕子"遷徙"

在雨季期間，有很多事情是您可以做，來減少這種影響。其中主要的有：

1） 把一些通風孔關掉。防止濕(潮濕)的空氣從外部流進燕屋農場。

2） 調整噴霧器的設置。某些地區可能需要在此期間完全把噴霧器關掉。

3） 清理燕屋農場。太過濃厚的燕子屎增加濕度，它就好像是濕海綿一樣。

4） 如果燕屋農場裏有小池塘或裝滿水的水桶，把它蓋上木板或石棉板。

5） 關掉噴水頭。

現在你知道有太多通風孔並不是一個好的主意。

任何超過95%度的濕度不是很好的，燕窩會變成淡黃色。

千萬要記得，在雨季之後，你需要重新調整設置因爲天氣改變了。很明顯的，你需要不同的設置對炎熱的季節，因為這樣的迴圈會繼續下去。對於那些知道如何適應和遵循的人肯定可以獲得更多的燕子，比起那些什麼都沒做的人。

大家有好燕屋農場 ！

FLOOD IN THE EAST COAST 東海岸的淹水

Pictures send from a reader in Terengganu. It has been like this for a few days. Hope the flood would subside soon.

以下的照片是從登嘉樓的一位讀者寄來的。已經好幾天了還是這樣。希望淹水會快點下降。

Good Swiftlet farming All!

LOVE POTION A POWERFUL HORMONE INCREASES NEST AND BIRDS POPULATION SINCE 2008

MONSOON and HUMIDITY

The monsoon season has started. It rains every day. In some states it never stopped. The lowland areas are flooded. Those Swiftlet farms located in such areas are affected.

During this time humidity is at its highest. For those who have experience in Swiftlet farming,  they would readjust the setting of the Humidifiers. Some would switch it off totally. Anything above RH 95%  would affect the nests quality. Nests would turn yellowish and  prolong expose to high RH some may turn brownish.

Not only nests are affected, the whole micro (internal) as well. Young chicks may die and eggs may not hatch and fatality is often high.

With such unfavorable internal environment,  Swiftlet would search for a new home to build nests.

A better internal environment would attract a large number of birds. Therefore, it is important that you keep track of the movement of the temperature and Humidity of your farms during the monsoon season.

This is where good farm management comes in. What is good farm management? Good farm management is, a systematic and consistent in changing and adjusting the gadgets that could influence the farm’s internal condition so that it is suitable for birds to stay and build nests.

How many of us would do this? Often many would wait until the monsoon over. Reason…nothing much one could do during this period. (Yes,  there are lots of things you could do)

Lots of things could happen during this time. The biggest fear is our birds leaving our farms in search of a better farm (better internal environment)…"migrating"

There are many things you could do to reduce this effect during the monsoon season. The major ones are:

1) Closing up some Ventilation holes. Prevent wet (moist) air from outside entering the farm.

2) Readjusting the setting of the Humidifiers. Some areas may need to switch off the humidifiers totally during this period.

3) Clean up the farm. Too thick of the birds dropping increases humidity as it works as a wet sponge.

4) If the Swiftlet farms have small ponds or pails filled with water, close them up with planks or asbestos board.

5) Switch off the water sprinkler.

So now you know having too many Ventilation holes is not a good idea.

Anything above 95%  (RH) is not good, nests would turn yellowish.

Do remember after the monsoon is over you need to readjust the setting again as the weather condition change. Obviously you need a different setting for a hot season as the cycle goes on. For those who know how to adapt and follow the changes would surely capture more birds than those who did nothing.

Good Swiftlet farming All!

燕窩商聯合會捎佳音 廣東省預訂10噸燕窩

 中国报

　（吉隆坡3日訊）大馬燕窩商聯合今日派定心丸，指中國廣東省燕窩產業協會與該聯合達致協議，明年向我國預訂10噸燕窩。

　燕窩商聯合會主席拿督李廣興指出，馬中燕窩業者在近3年來不曾大規模進行燕窩買賣交易，隨著簽署這項協議，可說是為我國燕窩業建立全新的里程碑。

　他說，中國廣東省燕窩產業協會與大馬燕窩商聯合會達成2項協議，包括中方承諾在2014年預訂10噸燕窩，及雙方合作成立馬中燕業誠信聯盟，為馬中兩國燕窩買賣提供一個交易平台。

將擬指南

　他指出，馬中燕業誠信聯盟將會擬出一份“馬中燕窩產品質量聯盟標準”指南，讓兩國燕窩商買賣交易燕窩。

　他今午出席2013年首屆馬中燕窩同業交流研討會，暨產業資源對接大會后在記者會如此發言。

　出席者包括燕窩商聯合會名譽會長曾永安太平局紳、研討會籌委小組委員黃祥華（吉蘭丹州燕窩商公會會長）、拿督李銀芳（森美蘭州燕窩商公會會長）、陳文豪（柔佛州燕窩商工業公會理事）、彭矜華（馬中友好世界燕窩商會會長）、中國廣東省燕窩產業協會執行會長徐兵、名譽會長訾建軍及董事張雅琴。

　李廣興深信，馬中燕窩買賣交易量將會與日俱增，有利國內燕窩商之際，也能為國家帶來可觀收入。

擬定適用燕窩認證

李銀芳說，燕窩商聯合會將探討中國廣東省燕窩產業協會所落實的燕窩認證系統可行度，以擬定一套適用于我國的燕窩認證，保障國內燕窩品質。

　他透露，中國廣東省燕窩產業協會將會在我國設立工作站，並與燕窩商聯合會推行多項研究合作，及審核我國的燕窩產品品質和給予認證。

　“有關工作展將會確保我國燕窩產品處于最佳品質，以及經過我們出口至中國的燕窩產品，都會通過這個工作站來給予認證。”

　他補充，這項認證是由中國廣東省燕窩產業協會所發出，認可我國燕窩產品品質，以防止燕窩產品再度出現問題。

　他說，該聯合會希望通過設立工作站，瞭解中方所落實的燕窩認證系統運作模式，並加以探討來作為指南，擬出適用于大馬燕窩市場的認證系統，保障本地所出產的燕窩產品品質。

燕窩產品料漲價20％

隨著中方明年向我國預訂10噸燕窩，預料國內燕窩產品（經清理加工的燕窩）身價水漲船高，近期內漲幅約10%至20%。

　李廣興指出，毛燕是製作燕窩產品的原料，隨著毛燕價格上漲，暨意味著燕窩產品的價格也會在近期內有所漲幅。

　他說，中國廣東省燕窩產業協會明年預訂的10噸燕窩，只是佔據了中國燕窩市場需求的5%，這也顯示了中國市場對于燕窩的需求量極高。

　他透露，中方代表也與該聯委會達成共識，雙方合作取得穩定后，中方將會引進更多燕窩，進入中國市場銷售。

中國批准入口 毛燕價格回升20%

中国报

獨家報導：邱玉珊

　（吉隆坡2日訊）隨著中國批准8家馬來西亞燕窩企業產品可以入口中國以及配合華人新年即將到來，我國毛燕（未經清理加工的燕窩原料）價格近期內回升，漲幅約10%至20%。

　儘管中國還未全面恢復燕窩進口，但隨著上述利好消息及華人新年到來，本地燕窩價格稍有回升，這也是近2年來，燕農引頸長盼的好消息。

　根據中國“南都網”報導，中國媒體在訪問廣東省燕窩產業協會會長徐兵時稱，大馬燕窩將解禁消息傳出后，燕窩的批發價已有回升，據其透露，解禁后合法進關大馬燕窩將採用定型包裝出廠價將是每公斤2萬人民幣（約1萬令吉）以上，定型包裝有標籤可溯源，他預測重返大陸市場的馬來西亞燕窩零售價不會低于每克40人民幣（約20令吉）。

送禮首選

　燕鳴資源有限公司總執行長拿督蔡千根接受本報訪問時說，毛燕價格確實有回升，與年前同期的燕窩價格比較，回升幅度介于10%至20%，可是回升原因並非我國有8家燕窩企業獲准出口，而是華人新年到來了，華裔消費者仍會選擇燕窩送禮。

　燕鳴是中國獲准入口的8家企業之一，蔡千根說，目前國內燕窩商向燕農購買的毛燕都是輕毛（一般向燕農購買的屋燕分為輕毛、中毛和重毛，視羽毛量），目前輕毛的毛燕比較受燕窩商歡迎。

　今年4月，由中國國家認證認可監督管理委員會（CNCA）、中國出入境檢驗檢疫協會和中國檢驗檢疫科學研究院聯合組成的6人專家代表團對馬來西亞燕窩產業開展為期兩周的考察，經過中國專家團的詳細檢疫，8家馬來西亞燕窩加工廠已經過CNCA認證。

料下月解禁燕商仍觀望

中國燕窩業內預測是明年1月燕窩可解禁，但馬來西亞燕窩商只能持觀望態度，畢竟燕窩不能出售到中國已2年，倘若今年底還不能出口，就必須等候明年1月，我國燕窩業者可能趕不上中國春節的銷售期。

　根據中國廣東省燕窩產業協會官網引述，中國檢驗檢疫科學研究院在月前在北京主辦“燕窩標準需求研討會”，來自中國有關部委的參會領到明確傳達了中國政府高度重視和質檢總局全力推行恢復中馬燕窩進出口貿易的支持態度和工作進度，所以根據中國媒體報導，中國燕窩業內的消息是指中國可在明年1月恢復進口燕窩。

　蔡千根說，大馬燕窩業者只能對燕窩輸華一事保持樂觀態度，目前只能耐心等待。

　他透露，根據獸醫局的回應，目前只是等待中方機構審核當地的燕窩進口商，以及馬中進出口商如何銜接，這些鑑定完成后，希望燕窩輸華有望。

　中國“南都網”轉載中國海關數據，2008年從馬來西亞進口的燕窩是0.379噸、2009年是6.218噸、2010年是8.689噸、2011年1至6月是5.068噸；而馬來西亞估計，每年燕窩產量達到60噸，90%燕窩出口到中國。

祝聖才：須與中國燕商談價

馬來西亞燕窩商聯合會總會長拿督祝聖才說，國內燕窩價格確實有回升，不過他強調，在燕窩可出口中國后，本地燕窩業者必須與中國燕窩進口商商討燕窩出口價格，以不讓我國燕農損失。

　他說，該聯合會將在週一與廣東省燕窩產業協會的中國燕窩商務考察團進行交流，屆時也會談及出口燕窩的價格，確保我國燕農利益得以保障。

　“燕窩價格必須根據自由市場浮動，避免中間人趁機牟利，危及燕農的利益。”

　他強調，燕農出售的價格必須是公平交易，同時燕窩出口到中國的價格必須按照市場價，這一點馬中的燕窩業者必須達到共識，倘若出口價格或燕窩價格不合理，聯合會將會採取行動去捍衛燕農的利益。

應該有多少架放大器在一個燕屋農場裏 How Many Amplifiers Should a Swiftlet Farm Have?

最常問的問題，"應該有多少架放大器在一個燕屋農場裏?"

對這一問題可以有很多的答案，但是對我來說，我堅持事實、 常識和最重要的是實際上燕子想要什麼。

我的建議很簡單，每個樓應該有一架放大器，另外一個用於外聲。優點是：

1） 沒有超載。超載的放大器不能產生良好品質的聲音。給一個載多過150個高音喇叭的任何放大器(不管它的瓦特有多大）它的聲音品質一定會降低。即使一些聲稱可以承受 300個高音喇叭或更多，但是在聲音品質，它一定受到影響。

2）。在某种情況下，那個高音喇叭的接線有缺陷或出現短路，如果哪一樓是沒有聲音 （內部聲音） 其他的兩層樓仍有聲音。所以你不用擔心你的燕子們會跑到你鄰居的燕屋農場。你只會去你的燕屋農場一個月一次或兩次，沒有內部的聲音對燕屋農場是不好的。

3） 各層樓都有一個放大器將使放大器更耐久，至少可以超過3年，每天24小時一個星期7天的運作。更長的壽命，內部的備件不會超負荷工作。

4） 每層樓都有一個放大器的系統將消除放大器的交替運行的計時器的使用。我相信很多人已被告知輪流使用(播放)那些放大器每8個或每12個小時時間間隔。這是為了防止過熱。很簡單，如果放大器不是重載那麽它就不會過熱。沒有重載的放大器可以24個小時/一個星期7天不間斷的運作。

5） 每層樓都有一個放大器，那些高音喇叭的佈線是非常容易於安裝和管理。我們可以知道哪些高音喇叭的接線連接到哪個放大器，如果佈線出現缺陷時可以輕鬆地確定。

以上的照片是從一個燕屋農場採用每層樓都有一個放大器的制度。使用了三架Hi-Nest放大器。其實上是一個很聰明的選擇。內部聲音24小時/一星期7天不停的運作。

在聲音的品質......燕子會愛你使用Hi-Nest放大器，因為它產生的聲音讓燕子很高興。

大家有好燕屋農場 ！

How Many Amplifiers Should a Swiftlet Farm Have?

The most common question asked, "How many Amplifiers should a Swiftlet farm have?"

There are many answers to this question but, for me, I stick to fact, common sense and most importantly what  the birds actually wanted.

My recommendation is simple, each floor of a Swiftlet farm should one Amplifier and another one for external sound. The advantages are:

1) No overloading. Overloaded Amplifiers don't produce good quality sound. By giving any Amplifier loaded with more than 150 tweeters (immaterial of how big the Watt is) its sound quality will deteriorate. Even though some claimed to withstand 300 tweeters or more, but in term of sound quality it will be affected.

2) . In even the  tweeters wiring connections defect or short circuit if one floor is without sound ( Internal sound) the other two floors still have sound. So you don't have to worry about your birds running  to your neighbor's farm. You only visit your Swiftlet farm once or twice a month no internal sound is not good for Swiftlet farm.

3) Individual floor Amplifier will last longer, easily more than 3 years at least on a 24/7 run. A longer life span, as the internal parts are not overworked.

4) The system of each Amplifier per floor would eliminate the use of timers for alternate running of Amplifiers. I am sure many of you have been advised to alternately shifting (play) the Amplifiers every 8 or 12 hour interval. This is to prevent overheating. Simple if the Amplifier is not overloaded then it won't be overheated. No overloaded Amplifiers can run 24/7 non-stop.

5) With each floor having an Amplifier, the Tweeter wiring is much easy to install and manage. We know which Tweeter wiring is connected to which Amplifier, and in the event of wiring defect it can be easily identified.

The above picture is from a Swiftlet farm adopting a system of each Amplifier per floor. Three HI-NEST Amplifiers were used. A smart choice indeed. The internal sound runs 24/7 non-stop.

In terms of sound quality.... Swiftlets will love you for using the Hi-Nest Amplifier because the sound it produces make Swiftlets happy.

Good Swiftlet farming All!

相信不該相信的人 BELIEVING THE WRONG PERSON

我已經推遲了對這個參觀好幾次了。C先生再次的提醒了我。不管怎麽樣我還得做了。

"James，你什麼時候來參觀我的燕屋農場?"

"哦，C先生....很快......很快...這個星期如何?"

"確定......James我會等你哦。別忘了給我打電話"。

一個一層半的燕屋農場位於巴生谷不遠的地方。一個還蠻好的養燕地方而且他的鄰居們有幾個還幹得很好呢。

就是這樣啓發了他去做燕屋農場。這是2年前多的事了。身為一位技術人員的他，實際上 DIY從燕屋農場的結構工作到安裝木板，就是從一些所謂眾所周知的師父和朋友們的一些指導。

一個狗洞的設計，從外面看起來還蠻好的。裡面呢? 始終是兩個不同的故事。超過2年現在這個燕屋農場甚至連一個燕窩都沒有。

這個燕屋農場有什麼奇怪的地方...它甚至連一堆燕子屎也沒有。這怎麼可能呢？

為了要幫他，我需要這個燕屋農場的所有資訊。

"C先生，你必須跟我說實話。告訴我，你在這個燕屋農場所做或所放的所有事情和東西。我需要知道所有這些我才可以幫你"。

其中一個最大的問題之一是他用鴨蛋和燕子屎混合然後凃在牆上。

我問他，為什麼你這麼做，你是從哪裡學來的？

他的回答是......我從網絡和朋友那裏學到的。他們說這將有助於增加燕窩。

"James，在網絡上有這麼多的香氣方程式所以我就跟著......啦。他們還說所有的燕屋農場的內部必須凃上黑漆，所以我也跟著...啦。

"那麼結果是什麼呢？C先生"

"James，最初我還看到一些燕子在裡面玩，但是使用了鴨蛋和燕子屎的混合之後，就沒有再見到它們了"。

"C先生，我們在燕屋農場所做的一切都是基於事實和燕子的行為的理解。如果一個人沒有擁有這些，很難讓他做一個很好的成功燕屋農場。下一次不要隨便跟隨別人說什麼。思想和評論先，然後看看是否有道理還是沒有。記住你的燕屋農場不是其他人的白老鼠"。

（就算有最佳的防盜措施有如何，也不能吸引燕子做燕窩)

C先生是受到誤導。不是所有的燕屋農場內部的牆壁都需要凃上黑漆。一個簡單的解釋就是"內部是否太亮有太亮的光度?"如果是那就需要，但是只是在受影響的地方，而不是整個燕屋農場凃上黑漆。

這並不是新鮮事，很多在外面的師父還是堅持，所有新建的燕屋農場內部必須凃上黑漆。它變成了一個規範或強制性的標準操作程式。

爲什麽C先生的燕屋農場是那麽的亮呢？(其初這個燕屋農場的確是非常明亮)這是因為它的設計。狗洞入口是直接面對第二個入口洞好像一條直線. C先生說這是一位聲稱眾所周知的師傅教他的。

從入口洞的光可以直接照耀到第二個入口，這樣使做窩區變得明亮。在這種情況下，環繞區的目的被這個設計作廢。

環繞區的作用也是作為屏障來減低光的密度和風。我相信很多人從未想過這一點，只是想到環繞區是讓燕子可以發揮的地方，很多師父仍然堅持這個原則。

因爲它差勁的設計，這個燕屋農場不得不被塗上黑漆來減少光。一旦它被凃上黑漆，這個燕屋農場整個是在完全黑暗中。完全黑暗的危險是，燕子找不到出路尤其是幼燕子。

有這麼多的通風孔。主要的原因是爲了要讓燕屋農場冷卻下來。它被錯誤地了解。通風孔-不是為了冷卻燕屋農場的。而太多的通風孔讓熱空氣帶入燕屋農場。

當我在燕屋農場的時候，被發現更多和更多的錯誤。難怪沒有燕子屎。不會有燕子會想留在這個燕屋農場的。這是令人困惑。白色的PVC管子作為通風孔。當所有的門都被關閉時，眩目的白色PVC管子可以清楚地看到。幼燕子會飛向這個眩光然後撞向這些管子誤認為它是出口 (入口洞)。

我問C先生，"為什麼你不改用灰色的PVC管子，這樣可以降低眩光而且它們較厚"。他回答說，"我師父和朋友都強烈推薦我用白色的PVC，所以我只是跟著"。

有一些排氣孔並沒有安上3尺的PVC管子，原因是要讓更多的空氣流動。你會相信這種藉口嗎？

我叫他把所有的燈関掉和關上門。站在那裏幾分鐘和觀察。假設如果他是在危險中，無法找到出路他將往哪裏逃？

他回答說有光的地方。所以如果燕子不能找到它的出口它們會飛到明亮的白色PVC管子然後撞上它。對燕子而言，這可能是入口洞。

他被他的導師誤導燕子喜歡黑暗。也許完全黑暗是最好的。於是他把木板也凃上黑色。我很震驚地看到這個。我不知道這個直到我看到木板上的黑漆。

我們正在談論的是某种百分比的黑色而不是完完全全的黑暗。當內部被凃上黑色的時候，它將創建沒有對比。幼燕子依靠光來作為導航它們，因爲它們還沒有回聲定位。因此，應該不惜一切代價避免完全黑暗。

大部分的地方都被塗上黑漆。

甚至連天花板也不被倖免。他甚至把木版被安裝之前凃上黑漆。

內部的高音喇叭被安裝在木板的中間。我參觀過很多失敗的燕屋農場和他們分享一些相似之處，他們很多把高音喇叭安裝在木板的中間。

請注意，燕子第一個燕窩並不是作在木板的中間的。他們更喜歡作燕窩在角落。我已說過一百遍了，已經說夠了。但是一些人仍然繼續這樣做。這就是為什麼90%的燕屋農場是失敗的燕屋農場。

太少的高音喇叭......原因是，大多數舊的成功燕屋農場有很少的高音喇叭，C先生說。一些人甚至關掉內部的聲音。

是的，他是有道理的。這些燕屋農場是在10-20年前被修造的，他們有上一千的燕窩在內。新建的燕屋農場沒有上萬的燕窩在內。

他們需要模仿的舊燕屋農場的環境，所以在裏面安裝了許多高音喇叭來模仿這種環境。

等化器也被錯誤的設置。它不是根據內件聲音訊率而調整了。結果燕子不會留下來和作燕窩。

我在把高音喇叭安裝在木板的中間是誰的商標。一定是有人這樣做過，所以現在被許多人跟隨。

在角落並沒有壁角板。他被告知燕子喜歡90度的角落，但他們沒有向他解釋為什麼。燕子喜歡拐角處之間的聯接，這也就是角落。如果安裝壁角板，它將會有2條而不是一條聯接線。2條聯接線不是比1條更好嗎？

這個作窩的平臺是約5尺高。對我而言這是不必要的，有什麼用把作窩區完全充分的利用， 但是卻無法吸引燕子。

當我在裡面的時候我不能忍耐那些氨的氣味。我的鼻子是對這種刺激性的氣味是很敏感的。C先生放了幾袋的氨在裡面。這種想法也是來自朋友和師父。

這個1尺半的入口洞從環繞區到頂樓使用這個樓梯。千萬別認為燕子是愚蠢的動物。它們不是。它們決不會使用這個入口洞來飛入。如果你是那只燕子你會用這個入口洞，離地面只有4尺高。

有很多事情需要去做的。80%的分區都需要被刪除。一下牆壁必須砍拆下來。就好像是從新建立一個新的燕屋農場。我告訴C先生去做還是完蛋。他有只有兩個選擇，再空等待多10-20年或者改造整個燕屋農場，至少在六到八個月的時間，他可以收穫幾個燕窩來吃。

參觀後，我們去附近的咖啡店來總結我們的討論和調查結果。我可以看到C先生臉上的沮喪。

他問，"James，爲什麽那些人知道的那麼少卻可以假裝他們知道的很多?"

（他指那些曾經指導他打造這個燕屋農場的人)。

"James有兩個燕屋農場離我的燕屋農場只是3間，開始還比我的遲，其中一個現在有至少40個燕窩"。

"你怎麼知道C先生?"

"上個月我見到那名燕屋主。他來這裡做收穫的。我嘗試和他談話，但是他不肯說多...只是說大約有40個燕窩......，但是我看到他拿著一個袋子，哪裏至少有50個燕窩。爲什麽我的甚至連一個燕窩都沒有"。

"C先生，您的燕屋農場有很多問題......你還想期望些什麽呢？現在去做我告訴你的東西。把它當作一個教訓。從頭開始。重頭開始不是更好嗎，至少您知道你做正確了。"

"謝謝你James，今天您所教我的東西是非常有價值的。你所說得一切事情都是有道理的"。

好可悲的是，看到一些人被誤導了。有什麽辦法...他們只是喜歡相信不對的人。

大家有好燕屋農場。

BELIEVING THE WRONG PERSON

I have postponed this visit for a few times. MR.C reminded me again. I have to do it somehow. 

"James, when are you going visit my farm?" 

"Oh Mr. C...soon..very soon.. how about this week?" 

"Ok ..James I will wait for you. Don't forget to call me."

A one and a half storey Swiftlet farm located not far from Klang Valley . A reasonably good place for Swiftlet farming as few of his neighbors are doing quite well. 

This has transpired him to go into Swiftlet farming. That was more than 2 years ago. Being a technical person himself he actually DIY the farm from structural work to nesting plank installation with some guidance from some so called well known Sifus and friends

A Dog Kennel design, it looks good from the outside. What about inside? It is always two different stories. For more than 2 years now this Bh has got not even one nest.

What peculiar about this Bh is...... it has got not even a spot of birds dropping. How could that be? 

In order to help him I need to have all information about this Bh. 

"Mr.C , you have to be honest with me. Tell me all the things that you have done or put in this Bh. I have to know all these before I can help you."

One of the biggest problem was he used duck eggs and mixed them with bird shit and painted it on the wall.

I asked him, why did you do that  for and where did you learn it from?

His reply was.....I got it from the Internet and friends. They said this will help to increase nests.

"James , there are so many aroma formulas on the Internet I just follow.. lah. They also said all Bh's internal must be painted black so I also follow..lah.

"So what is outcome Mr.C?"

"James , initially I saw few birds playing inside but after using duck eggs mixed with dropping I have never seen them anymore."

" Mr.C , all the things we do in our BHs are based on facts and understanding of bird behavior. If one doesn't possess this it is very hard for him to do a good successful Swiftlet farm. Next time don't simply follow what people say. Think and evaluate them first to see whether it makes sense or otherwise. Remember your farm is not other people's guinea pig."

( What is the point of having the best thief proof  when it can't even attracts Birds to build nests) 

Mr.C was being misled. No all Swiftlet farm's internal walls have to be painted black. A simple explanation would be " is the Internal  is too bright with strong light intensity?" If yes then it has to be painted black only in the affected areas but, not the entire Swiftlet farm. 

It is not new there are still many  Sifus out there insisting that all newly built Bh internal must be painted black. It has been a norm or a standard operating procedure compulsory.

Why is Mr.C's Swiftlet farm so bright ? ( Initially this Swiftlet farm was very bright) It is because of its design. The Dg Entrance hole is directly opposite the second entrance hole in a straight line .Mr. C claimed a well known Sifu taught him this.

The light from the Entrance hole could shine directly through the second entrance making the nesting areas bright. In this case the design defeated the purpose of the roving area.

Roving area also works as a barrier to reduce light density and wind.I believe many never thought of this other than thinking the roving area  is a place for birds to play which many Sifus still hold on to this principle. 

Because of its poor design this Bh has to be painted black to reduce the glare. Once it is painted black this Swiftlet farm is in total darkness. The danger of total darkness is, birds couldn't find its way out especially young birds.

 There are so many Ventilation holes. The main reason is to cool down the Swiftlet farm. It was wrongly misunderstood. The vent - hole is not for the purpose of cooling the Bh. Instead with too many Vent-hole they bring hot air into the farm.

As I was inside the Swiftlet farm more and more mistakes were discovered. No wonder there are no bird droppings. No birds would want to stay in this Bh. It is confusing. White PVC pipes are used as Vent - holes. When all doors are closed the glare from the White PVC pipes can be seen clearly . Young birds would charge to this glare and bang on them mistaken it as an exit ( Entrance hole).

I asked Mr.C, "why didn't you use the Gray PVC pipe instead which could reduce glare and they have thicker wall" . He replied , "my Sifus and friends strongly recommended the White PVC so I just followed".

Some of this Vent holes were not fixed with a 3 foot PVC pipe reason was to allow more air to flow in. Would you buy this excuse?

I asked him to switch off all lights and close the door .Stand there for a few minutes and observe. Assuming if he is in danger and can't find the way out where would he run to?

 He replied the areas that have got light. So if the birds cannot find its way out they too would fly to the bright White PVC pipe and bang on it. To them that might be the entrance hole.

He was made to believe from his mentors that birds like it dark. Perhaps total darkness is the best. So he painted the planks black. I was shocked to see this. I didn't know about this until I see the planks. 

We are talking about a certain percentage of darkness not total darkness. When the internal is painted black it creates no contrast. Young birds rely on light to navigate as they yet to develop echolocation. Therefore total darkness should be avoided at all cost.

Most of the areas were painted in black. 

Even the ceiling is not spared. He even painted them black before installing the nesting planks. 

The internal tweeters were installed in the middle of the planks. I have visited many failed Bhs and they shared some similarity, most of them having tweeters installed in the middle of the planks.

 Note, birds don't build  their first nests in the middle of the planks. They prefer to build it at the corners. I have said this a hundred times and had said enough. But people still continue to do so. That is why 90% Swiftlet farm failed. 

Too few tweeters..... Reason was most old successful Swiftlet farms have very few tweeters claimed Mr.C. Some of them even switched off the internal sound. 

Yes he got a point there. Those farms were built 10-20 years ago and they have thousand of nests inside. Newly built farms don't have thousand nests inside. 

They need to imitate the environment of the old farms therefore many tweeters are installed inside to imitate such environment. 

The equalizer is set wrongly. It was not tuned according to the Internals sound frequency. As a result Birds won't stay and build nests.

I was wondering whose trademark is this installing tweeters in the middle of the planks. Someone must have done it  before and now many are following it. 

There are no corner boards at the corner. He was told that the birds prefer 90 degree corners but they didn't explain to him why. Birds like the lines or joins that meet between two planks which is at the corner. If a corner board is installed it will have 2 join lines instead of one. Isn't 2 join lines better than 1?

This nesting platform is about 5 feet tall. To me this is unnecessary, what's the point of maximizing the nesting area when the Swiftlet farm can't even attract birds.

While I was inside I can't tolerate the Ammonia smell. My nose is very sensitive to this pungent smell. Mr.C had put a few bags of Ammonium inside . This idea also came from friends and Sifus.

A 1.5 foot entrance hole from the roving to the top floor using the staircase. Don't think that birds are stupid. There are not. They will never use this entrance hole to fly in. If you were the bird would you use this entrance which elevated just 4 feet from the ground.

There are so many things needed to be done. 80% of the partition have to be removed. Some of the walls have to be hacked down. It is like building a new farm. I told Mr.C do it or done. He has got only two choices,  wait  for nothing for next 10-20 years or revamp the whole farm and at least in six to eight months time he could harvest few nests to eat.

After the visit we went to a nearby coffee shop to wrap up our discussion and findings. I could see the frustration on Mr.C's face. 

He asked, " James , how come those people known so little and yet pretended that they know lots?"

(He was referring to those who had guided him to build his farm.)

"James there are two farms just 3 lots away from my Swiftlet farm started after me now one has at least 40 nests".

" How do you know that Mr.C?"

"I met one of the owners last month. He was here to do harvesting. I tried to talk to him but he refused to talk much other than saying ..OK lah  about 40 nests...and I saw a bag he was carrying easily 50 nests. How come mine doesn't even have 1 nests."

"Mr.C , there are lots of problems in your  Swiftlet farm  ...what do you expect? Now do as I have told you. Consider it as a lesson. Start all over from the beginning. It is better to start all over again knowing that you have done it correctly."

" Thank you James, what you have taught me today is invaluable. All the things you said really makes sense."

Well it is sad to see people being misled. What to do... they just love to believe the wrong person.

Good Swiftlet farming All.