不喂

(用匙子喂养小燕子)

當談到燕屋農場的知識我肯定不會喂您。 您必須做一些作業和邏輯上的想法。

我的一些文章暗示了许多关于如何改進他們的燕屋農場的想法和方式。 您需要有能力思考否則您是不會在燕屋農場成功的。

有少數的一些有這樣的能力和快速的學會。 這些人是有非常鋒利的感覺。

我的讀者今天送了我一个電子郵件，是一个快速的學習者和我希望與您全部分享。 我打賭這個人将會在一个非常短的时期成为非常成功的燕屋農場者。 以下是電子郵件

James， 我看见了您的評論关于太多的許多聲音是不好的。
實際上我使用了2个不同外在聲音和3个不同的內部聲音在5個月内。
我本来以为越多是越好。
我的鄰居似乎使用每一个一種类型的。 因此，我認為我通過這樣執行將会赢他。
然而，我現在體會到也許這样做是更多害處，因為燕子糞不增長。
N先生上

真正地我沒有那样說过，但是足够鋒利的那些人知道我意味什麼。 您需要看在事物之外，而是其他不能看到的。 這样做您将会在他們前面的一步，並且N先生得到我意味什麼。

在燕屋農場，有时候您需要想到您的頭崩裂来解决許多的問題。

这不是容易的，是吗？ 是嚇唬人，只要您是聰明的，並且足够敏銳您将在這個行业不會出錯。

有大量的信息在我的部落格是等待被透露的。 您只需要是敏銳。大家有好燕屋!

您是否可以创造一个好的屋内环境？许多还是做不到。。。

(用天花板的板来蓋窗口。我比较喜歡使用磚)

(肯定我不会用這樣木頭来做板條)

參觀了东海岸的另一個不成功的燕屋農場。 這個燕屋農場被管理了多过一年的时间。 結果不是好的少于10个窝。 燕屋農場是由一位本地的顧問完成的。

這個燕屋農場位于沿從Kuantan到Pekan的路。 雖然地點是不错的，但是燕屋農場不吸引許多燕子。 燕屋主試圖了不少的修補，但是幫助不大。

之后我被邀請到這個燕屋農場參觀。 當我进入这个燕屋農場时，我感覺到有某些事是不对的。 屋内的环境是完全错的。 燕屋農場是熱的，並且它是太乾燥的。

這是一个開屋顶式的，是好的，但是屋顶開了太大也带來了热的空气。

燕屋農場是使用天花板的板来作為分開来节省費用，但是天花板的板不是一个好的防熱体，因而使燕屋農場更熱。 熱的環境減少燕屋農場的濕氣。

設計不是好的，燕屋農場的整個不足够好。 我要求燕屋主增加另外的分開来創造一個更好的飛行道路。

除那以外，板條也是有問題的。 它使用錯誤的木板為板條。 難怪許多燕子沒有做窝。 但是燕屋主说这是Meranti。 这是顧問所说的，或許是鋸木廠的人说的。

通过我參觀的紀錄，我總計多数失败的的燕屋農場是由几个因素造成的。

有：

1) 屋内環境， 8个在10个内不能創造燕子喜歡的一個内部环境。

2) 9个在10個内的燕屋農場使用不合適的板條，之后有青苔和真菌的板條

3) 7个在10個内的燕屋農場設計了一个阻礙燕子飛行道路的燕屋農場，恶劣的燕屋农厂設計

它不是一個艱苦的事情来創造一个好的内部环境，我認為大家是知道的。

如果一個使用好的板條，关于青苔和真菌是可以防止的。

對于第3的，它是有点儿困難的，除非您知道什麼是燕子的飞行道路。

我已经勸告燕屋主需要做些什么如果他想要他的燕窝計數增量。

許多燕屋農場还是不可以达到符合的基本要求，难怪成功燕屋農場的率站还是在20%，可能較少。大家有好燕屋!

为什么燕屋農場失败？

您也許想知道您已經竭尽全力了，為什麼燕子仍然不做窝。 有时您甚而考虑放弃。 當您朋友的燕屋農場開始了时，到現在已经有收穫許多公斤，但是您的燕屋農場仍然是很努力得要得到10个窝。

您也許認為您已經竭尽全力，但是您的竭尽全力對其他燕屋農場来说只是簡單的按装了板来蓋掉窗口而已，安裝板條和开聲音。

有許多原因為什么燕屋農場失败。 在參觀了許多失败的燕屋農場的之後，多數是沒有符合基本的要求如好的屋内和屋外环境的那些。

有些是：

1) 燕屋農場的地點在燕子很少來搜尋食物的區域之外。 (不是頭等區域地区)

2) 屋内环境、温度、湿度、芳香等等是在很恶劣的情况

3) 燕屋農場錯誤的設計和恶劣的內部

4) 入口洞的太小，一是太大或太小和安置他們在燕屋農場的反面

5) 板條，太狹窄或太寬的线条在板條之間。 使燕子非常艱苦的棲息和登陸在板條。

6) 使用錯誤的板條材料或木頭。

7) 板條和天花板之间，使風吹通過的。

8) 在板條上的青苔和真菌。 (使用錯誤的板條)

9) 在板條上有白蟻和木頭臭蟲。

10) 在大廈漏水，水透过地板或天花板和損壞所有板條。

11) 掠食性動物例如鼠、蟑螂、貓頭鷹、蜥蜴、螞蟻等等。

12) 位于散發氣體的產業區域的燕屋農場。

13) 燕屋農場的低層是創造噪聲的汽車噴洒，大量修理，製造等等嚇唬燕子。

14) 在选择修建或更新的建筑材料用途是恶劣的。 一些材料有燕子煩惡的氣味。 我猜測許多不知道这些。

15) 入口洞的位置。

16) 使用錯誤的聲音，內部為外部等等。

17) 使用錯誤的放大器(有助類型作為Khz是不同的)

18) 聲音的质量差

19) 太多燕屋農場分享同一种聲音。

20) 聲音太大或太小

21) 使用错误的高音揚聲器(磁性類型)

22) 错误的按装高音揚聲器在燕屋農場

23) 使用太多种聲音在一個燕屋農場

24) 使用錯誤的聲音

25) 名單可以继续上百個項目.......

26) ........

27) ........

我必須停止因为我現在必須去參觀燕屋農場。

因此，在它被修造之前，您的燕屋農場是否符合那些以上的整個标准或考慮到以上的？ 如果不，那您怎麼可能擁有成功的燕屋農場呢？ 渴望擁有一個成功的燕屋農場是無用的。 因此今天必須做一些变动。 时间是金錢。大家有好燕屋!。

壁角板

(月亮形狀的壁角板用了改進的Love Potion)

(按装之前必须先晒乾)

我比较喜欢使用新月形的壁角板。我称它为月形，喜欢的原因是它更加容易的按装，並且它有好處超过90度的壁角板。

如果您使用90度壁角板，木匠的木工作技巧必須是好和精確的。 那意味所有90度壁角板的角度一定是準確的，如果任何角度是不準確地90度的话，那90度壁角板不會適當地適合，因為兩個角度必須是90度的。

否則在90度壁角板和板條之間会有一條大直线而这是燕字不喜欢的。

月形的壁角板就不会出现一條大直线虽然壁角板的角度不是90度，月亮形的壁角板可以容易地從左到右移動来配合。 這將減少板條和壁角板的空间和它是容易工作的。

不同於90度的壁角板，因为他們的後面是坚硬的是很难調整的。 不要轻视這个因为幼燕子喜欢在板條和壁角板之間做窝。如果不是所有的话，多數新燕屋農場的窝是被做在新的壁角板的。

除非您是不傾向壁角板的，並且您不打算按装壁角板在您的燕屋農場。

但是，如果您打算在您的燕屋農場按装壁角板，那您應該使用正確的一個。 不是不可以使用90度的壁角板，但是，如果您想要使用它，保证鋪板的手藝是好的，並且保證工人在按装壁角板工作的技巧，如果所有的90度壁角板的角度是不正确的那您按装90度壁角板是会有問題的。

這是為想要DIY板條的那些人是有用的。 我以前有试过DIY我自己的板條和我猜測您也可以做到它。大家有好燕屋!

Good Competition!

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(worker clearing up debris)

I am building another new farm to add to my farm collecting which located in the Selangor. It is a shop lot unit. I have spotted this area for a while there are plenty of birds here and there is only one old farm here.

The old farm I mentioned is about one and a half year old. From sources, it has more than 200 nests. I was quite pessimistic about this figure from a close friend of mine who is a local there.

There are only 2 rolls of shop lots in this area with one old farm. The location I call it “best” surrounding with old palm plantation and rivers. My curiosity force me to do a birds count on the old farm at 7.30 pm.

First it was one or two entering the farm then 4 to 5. Later 10 to 15 entering the hole at one go. As it goes my eyes couldn’t catch up with the numbers of birds going into the farm. As we know at this point it was sheer speed. Thru my experiences of observation It could easily exceeded 2000 birds and more are coming and it’s getting dark and I am unable to see them clearly. I believe it could be more than 200 nests easily by looking at the numbers of birds going into the farm.

My renovation started 2 weeks ago and it is almost completed. What surprised me was as my workers were clearing up the debris a lorry turned up and unload some construction materials.

I asked the driver all these materials are for who? He replied, this for the shop next to yours. So my neighbor is going to build a farm too? Yes smiled the driver and after unloaded the bricks he left.

Next day a group of construction worker arrives there were many of them (6-8). I smiled with one of them and said “what a big group” and jokingly said how many storey of farm you all wanted to build with such big group.

He was a nice fellow, he replied my boss wants us to complete it fast in a week time. As we spoke I manage to get some information from him. Obviously I did not expose my identity. I just said I am here to help a friend to send food and tools for the Indon workers.

He claimed his boss (which I cannot mention name here) a so call big time consultant in this area and the whole of Malaysia. A well know figure in Swiftlet farming. Has build thousand of farm with not even one unsuccessful. He has hundred of farm now waiting to be built and having uncounted customers queuing up to do booking. ( ha..ha..ha.. Inside me I laugh of course). In fact I had revamped farms that made by him.

I replied oh I see. I prompted him further. He replied’ this farm belongs to my boss. He wants a farm here. He built many farms for people and this one is for himself so we have to do a good job. With complement I say “you are a good worker”.

Yesterday my Indon worker called to inform me that those guy from next door (which I can’t mention name here) went inside my farm to view. I bet they want to see the design. Well let them see. There’re still many things which I yet to add on.

I only add on the important partitioning after the farm is completed with sound. Which mean all planking and construction works had completed and the door could be locked then only I will erect the partion and add in certain stuff myself.

Let see whose farm could attract more birds. I can’t wait see the result. This is what I have been waiting for it is very interesting and exciting to prove those so called heavy consultant what their skills worth.

At the same time to show those queuing up customers (if they really exist) how stupid there really are.

Good farming All!

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Volume Kills

My reader asked me should he blast his external sound to attract more birds as most of his neighbors are doing it.

My answer is no! Not too loud. I think I had mentioned this before in my previous article if I am not mistaken. Anyway my advice is not to blast the sound too loud. Swiftlet won’t be attracted to the loudness of the sound it is the quality and the contents of the sound that counts.

It is similar to human, if a lousy song is being played no matter how loud it is you will hate it and complain about it. If a top ten hit song is being played no matter how loud it is you will tap your feet and may sing along.

So the quality counts not the volume. Having good tweeters and Amp wouldn’t serve any purposes if the quality of sound is not good. Good quality sound means not only it is clear and sharp its also must contain good mix of attractive swiftlet chirping sound. If its only clear and sharp but the chirping sound is not attractive then it is useless too.

(At last on 1st. October 2007, the swiftlets started coming into the farm. We had waited with much anxiety, watching the birds circling and passing by but only a few entered the farm. Thinking that the farm is an standalone farm and far away from other farms, we set the calling sound louder than normal but it seems to backfire. Only after tuning the sound to a lower volume on the evening of 30th September 2007 that we saw the result.

Picture of the completed farm. It is a standalone farm on agriculture land and quite far from the nearest house (about 300 feet away).

The above picture is from my friend's blog "Tirok". I am sure many have known this. In fact he experienced this way back in 2007. So too loud of a sound would cause harm than good.

I am not talking about who or where you got or bought it from most important what sound is in the it.

Some even ask me shouldn’t they test it first which sound is effective before they purchase it. You could do that if you are inexperience in sound.

If you have knowledge in Swiftlet sound or know the language of Swiftlet the moment you hear the sound you would have known whether it will attract birds or otherwise.

So remember the content in the sound not the volume neither who nor where you bought if from.

Good farming All!

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Plan to fail

(look at the color of the wood)

It is not the farm fails after one or two years later. It fails the moment it started operation. This is very common in Swiftlet farming. There is a saying “no one plans to fail but it fails to plan”. Where as in Swiftlet farming it seemed like it has planned to fail in most cases.

It fails the moment it starts. The sound doesn’t attract birds. Birds reluctant to come and play Even if they come but they don’t make nest.

Look at those nesting planks it already has mold and fungus before the sound was switched on. This is what I saw in a farm that is less than 5 months old.

It is very hard for me to ask the owner to remove them all and install new planks after they had invested their money in it.

I was asked to have a look this farm which is located in the South of Selangor. The owner was my reader and we have met many times and now he has become a good friend of mine.

The design of the farm was not bad but it needs some touch up. I had asked him to erect few partitions on strategic areas to reduce the light from penetrating into the farm.

He was lucky that not all the planks were attacked by fungus. There was certain percentage of planks which are of poor quality. He had bought the planks from a sawmill which promised it was 1^st grade planks. In fact it I call it non- graded.

Well in Swiftlets farming if you are not careful you would be easily taken for a ride.

There are some who said I can’t trust anybody except myself, I bet you, and you can’t even trust yourself because you ain’t got the knowledge to lead yourself to the decision on which is right or wrong or which is correct or false.

You need knowledge to lead you to make good decision therefore have good knowledge would certainly helps.

You need to do it right then only the birds would make nests. You should do a check list. The list should contain all items which I had written on my previous article. Making sure all reach the required standard.

Good Farming All!

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Happy Chinese New Year to All Readers

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The whole 2009 was a wonderful year and also a very exhausted one for me. I have been very busy traveling visiting farms all over the country from one end to another. Building new ones and helping to solve farms’ problems that left over by the previous consultants, contractors and so on.

You really don’t believe what I saw and witnessed. How could all these guys build farm like that? This was what I ask myself. I encountered all sorts of crazy and funny things from design to stuff they put in farms.

My wish is that one day the successful rate of farm in this Swiftlet Farming Industry would increase higher compares to the current one which is 80/20. (80% fails).

I trust this figure perhaps the failure rate is much higher as I had seen it myself after visited so many failed farms.

I sincerely thank all my readers which most had become good friends of mine for their support. Without you all this blog wouldn’t have existed.

Also thanks those from the neighboring countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, etc for their support.

Love Potion has been wonderful ever since it launched was beyond expectation and had changed how traditional perception towards Aroma. I am happy that it has helped many farms. Have a successful 2010!

May this Chinese New Year bring you Happiness, Success and Prosperity.

May your New Swiftlets Farm that starts in the Year of Tiger will have more than 500 nests in 12 months time.

May your old farm that already harvesting many kgs of nests per month shall double up in few months time.

For those who wanted to start let’s not waste time. The Tiger will not let you down!

*Have a wonderful Chinese New Year 2010*

Thank you all very much!

Warmest Regards

James

(Good Farming all!)

No Spoon Feed!

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(spoon feeding a chick)

I definitely won’t spoon feed you in term of knowledge when it comes to Swiftlets Farming. You have to do some homework and think logically.

Some of my articles hinted lots on ideas and ways on how one could improve their farms. You need to have the ability to think beyond spoon fed otherwise you won’t be successful in Swiftlets Farming.

There are few who have such ability and learned extremely fast. These are those who has very sharp sense of observance.

One of these fast learners who are also my regular reader sent me an email today and I would like to share with you all. I bet this guy would be very successful in Swiftlets farming in a very short period of time. Below is the email;

James,

I saw ur comment that too many sounds is not good for birds.

I actually used 2 different external sound and 3 different internal sounds for last 5 months.

I thought the more the merrier.

My neighbor seems to be using one type of each. So I thought I will beat him by doing so.

However, now I realize may be this do more harm than good because the bird shits are not growing.

From

Mr. N

I didn’t really say that but those who are sharp enough know what I mean. You need to see things beyond what others could not see. This makes you one step in front of them and Mr.N gets what I meant.

In Swiftlets Farming you need to do lots of thinking sometimes cracking your head to find solution to the problems.

So it is not easy isn’t it? Do be frighten guys, as long you are intelligent and observant enough you won’t go wrong in this field.

There is plenty of information on my blog waiting to be disclosed. All you need to do is to be observant.

Good farming all!

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Can you create a Good Micro? Most farms can't.

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(Ceiling board to cover the windows. I prefer using bricks)

( I definitely won't use such wood as nesting planks)

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Visited another unsuccessful farm in the East coast. This farm has been operated for more than a year. The result wasn’t good less than 10 nests. The farm was done by a local consultant.

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This farm is Located along the road from Kuantan to Pekan. Though the location is not bad but the farm fails to attract many birds. The owner has attempted few revamps but it doesn’t help much.

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Later I was asked to visit this farm. When I enter the farm I could feel something not right. The micro is totally out. The farm is hot and it is too dry.

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This is an Open Roof farm the opening is big which is good but too big of an opening also brings in hot air.

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The farm is using ceiling board as partition to save cost but ceiling board is not good in heat insulating thus making the farm hot. Hot environment reduces the humidity of farms.

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The design is not good the whole farm is not conducive enough. I have asked the owners to add additional partition to create a better flying path.

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Besides that the planks are the problems too. It uses the wrong wood for nesting planks. No wonder many birds didn’t make nest. But the owner claimed it uses Meranti. To me that is what the consultant claimed, perhaps the sawmill guy.

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Thru my visiting records I reckoned that most of the failed farms are caused by few similar factors. There are:

1) Micro environment, 8 out of 10 could not create an internal environment liked by Swiftlets.

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2) 9 out of 10 farms are using unsuitable woods as nesting planks which later have fungus and mold

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3) 7 out of 10 farms, Poor farm Design that obstruct the flying path of birds in farm

It is not that hard to create a good internal environment liked by birds which I think most knew this.

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As for the mold and fungus it could be prevented if one uses good wood for nesting planks.

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For the 3^rd one, it is a bit difficult unless you know what is birds flying path.

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I had advised the owner what to do if he wants to see his nests count increases.

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Most farms can’t meet the basic requirement no wonder the successful rate in swiftlets farming stood at 20% perhaps lesser.

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Good farming All!

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