Make Sure the Hygrometer Reading is Accurate.

Having an accurate reading of Temp & Rh in farm is very important. This will help you to understand your internal condition and to rectify them immediately if the reading is below acceptable level.

The German made Hygrometer has been out of stock for quite a while and today I managed to get hold the stock. I would prefer this to the digital one that is made in China. Somehow I doubted the accuracy and the durability of the later.

Given the condition of the farm which is damp and high in ammonia gas due to the accumulation of birds dropping the electronic inside the digital type (the digital plate) would not last long because of oxidation. Often the battery would leak after few months due to the oxidation process. The German made one does not need battery to operate.

There were few occasions I entered my reader’s farms and I felt differently and I told them that their farm’s condition are totally out of the acceptable level. Some of them argued with me and insisted the conditions are OK. They even showed the Hygrometers that hanged on the farm’s wall (digital type) and the reading show 28C & RH 85%.

Thru my experiences I could felt it and I bet they were wrong and their Hygrometers reading are somehow inaccurate. I asked them to take down the Hygrometers and place them outside the farm to check the reading again. This time under the hot sun it shows 29C & RH 83%. It clearly showed the Hygrometer is malfunction after couple of months.

So go and check the Hygrometers in your farms. The reading might not be accurate anymore over long period.

That’s why some farmers keep on complaining about reducing birds population and the nests grow is slow. This could be the hidden problem right under your nose. You may not notice it yourself unless you are experience enough.

For those who are interested to get this German made Hygrometer you may contact me. 012-3173811. Price Rm 120.00 excluding postage. Limited stocks.

Good farming All!

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应该有几个Amps

您应该在燕屋農場使用多少个Amps呢 ？ 那是一个棘手的问题。 那将取决于燕屋農場的大小、有几层楼，高音扬声器的数量，高音扬声器的种类和Amp的瓦特等等。

多数时间，如果我不是说所有的话95% 的燕屋農場只有使用2个 Amps，也有一些只是使用1个 Amp。

通常为使用2个 Amps的那些， 1部用在外在声音的和另外1部用在内部，不管燕屋農場有多大。 它是普通的看到上百部的高音扬声器被连接到1部 Amp。 对我来说它是等待定时炸弹等待爆炸，它是等待Amp烧机因为它是超载的。

所有这些是归于结为节省成本。 有时它是正的没有道理，我认为燕屋主原本是因该聪明的，但是我莫名其妙地怀疑了。 如果他们可以在他们的燕屋農場上花费了几十万为什么不可以再花费另外的几百零吉在Amps上呢。

这经常发生了燕屋農場是由某些虚伪的... 顾...建造.......因此他们能获得更多的利润。 有些声称使用1个 Amp是传统的方式，所有的(全内部和内部的用同一个声音)是最好。 那里是有许多不同的学校当谈到如此，但是我明确地不会使用1个 Amp为所有和通过我的经验和研究，结果再次显示了用2个声音或更多是执行了比1个声音好的。

其中一个使用超过1个 Amp的简单原因是，如果其中一个Amps发生了故障，那燕屋農場不会是在无声音的时期，当您没有参观燕屋農場时。 记住我们只是去参观我们的燕屋農場每个月或两个月的时间。 想象您是依靠了1个Amp，并且它发生了故障，您的燕屋農場然后将无声音，并且您所有的燕子将被诱惑到有声音的其他燕屋農場。

其次，有超过1个 Amp您可以玩杂耍内部的声音与将促进燕子群。 这是其中一个增加燕子人口的秘密。 但是保证您会玩杂耍在旧和新的内部声音之间。 所有差错将减少燕子群。 (打电话给我，如果您有疑义)。

第三。，有更多的Amps将均匀地传播高音扬声器的数量减少在每个Amp的装载因而Amp个生命将是延长的。

目前某些Amp在我的燕屋農場是24/7开着的，到现在超过7年的时间仍然是开着的。 不要超载您的Amps。 一旦超载寿命将是缩短的。

还有许多好处在您的燕屋農場使用超过1个 Amp。 唯一的缺点是接线，它是有点费时的。 但是在长久来讲您会受益于它。


大家有好燕屋!

第2或第3年

您是否想知道为什么一些人说在第2或第3的年燕屋農場开始之后燕窝才会增加。

什么原因才会有这样的现象呢？燕屋農場是否有关于等待呢？在第2或第3年才有收获是普通吗？如果是的， 那所有的燕屋農場是必须等待通过这个期间后，才开始有收获许多公斤咯。

可悲的是，不是所有的燕屋農場经过这个期间之后将会有猛烈的增加。 实际上，许多燕屋農場甚而不会到达30个窝。 它明显地表示，等待不是答案，并且，是有其他因素影响这个增长的。

等待只是一个过程，但是它不是主要的因素。 燕子需要至少45-60天来适应环境，在他们参观了燕屋農場之后。 在这个期间，他们会经常去参观新的燕屋農場连续地发现燕屋農場是否安全。

除此以外，他们也将测试燕屋農場的情况用它的温度的期限， 湿度，板条的安排，飞行道路等等。

燕子的生存天性迫使他们选择最佳的燕屋農場，以便他们的子孙能生存，并且下一代能增长。 这是多数动物将寻找的环境是安全和适当的生产周期的一部分。
若想象，您燕屋農場的环境不拥有或适合燕子所寻找的要求？

然后等待是没有用的，并且，无论您等待多久燕屋農場将保持同样。

在适应期间以后， 燕子需要另外45天(+或-)来做窝。 这个过程将占去几个月的时间。 所以，如果您期望在一个月的时间看到有满杯的窝，我敢打赌您将会是非常失望的。

当然也有案件经营2个月的燕屋農場，并且已经有窝被造在那里，但是这只是发生在少量的燕屋農場几千个農場才有一个。

因此，快快去发现您的燕屋農場是否有吸引燕子停留和做窝的一个好的内部环境。 现在发现好过是2年以后才发现。

您那时会浪费2年。 在第3年的时候您应该是享受收获。 而不是在第3年才开始修补您的燕屋農場。

因此您的燕屋農場是否有正确的内部环境？ 只有您才知道。 如我总是说没有人认识您的燕屋農場比您更好的。

要今天发现它好过比在2或3年后才发现。

大家有好燕屋!

How Many Amps?

How many Amps should you use in farm? That is a tricky question. That would depend on the size, the number of floor, the number of tweeters, the type of tweeters, and the watt of the Amp and so on.

Most of the time if not all I would say 95 % of Swiftlet farms are only using 2 Amps, some only using 1 Amp.

Commonly for those that are using 2 Amps, 1 for External sound and 1 for Internal sound immaterial of how big the farm is. It is common to see few hundred tweeters connected to 1 Amp. To me it is a time bomb waiting to explode, it is a matter of time the Amp will break down due to overload (over heated).

All these boiled down to cost saving. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense, I thought Swiflet farmers are intelligent but somehow I doubted. If they could spend hundred thousand on their farms why can’t they spend additional few hundred ringgit for the Amps.

This often happened where the farms were built by some insincere ……consul……. So that they could make more profit.

Some even claimed that the traditional way of using 1 single Amp for all (1 sound for all – Internal & Internal) is the best. Well there are many thought of schools when it comes to this but I definitely won’t use 1 Amp for all and thru my experiences and researches again and again the results showed 2 sounds or more performed much better than 1 sound.

One of the simple reasons of using more than 1 Amp is, if one of the Amps malfunctioned the farm won’t be out of sound the entire period when you are not visiting. Bear in mind we only visit our farm once or twice per month. Imagine if you relied on 1Amp and it malfunctioned then your farm would have no sound and all your birds would be enticed to other farms that have sound.

Secondly having more than 1 Amp you could juggle with the internal sound which would boost up the birds population. This is one of the secrets of pushing up the population of birds. But make sure you know how to juggle between the old and new internal sound. Any mistake make it would reduce the birds population instead. (Call me if you have doubts).

Thirdly having more Amps the number of tweeters will be spread evenly therefore fewer tweeters for every each Amp reducing the load on each Amp thus the life of the Amp will be longer.

Currently some of the Amp in my farms has been running 24/7 for more than 7 years still running now. Never overload your Amps. Once overloaded the life span will be shorten.

There are many more advantages in using more than 1 Amp in farm. The only disadvantage is the wiring is a bit taxing. In long run you would benefit from it.

Good Farming All!

The 2nd & 3rd Year

Have you ever wonder why some say that nests would only increase in the 2nd or 3rd year after the farm had operated.

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What is the reason for such phenomena? Is Swiftlet farming is all about waiting? Is after the 2^nd or 3^rd year is the norm? If yes then all farms just have to waiting thru this period and thereafter all would be harvesting many kgs.

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Sadly not all farms would have drastic increase of nests after such period. In fact many farms would not even reach 30 nests. It shows clearly that waiting is not the answer and there are other factors that influence such grow.

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Waiting is only part of the process but it is not the major factor. Swiftlets take at least 45-60 days for adaptation after they had visited a farm. During this period they would often visit the new farm again continuously to find out the safety of the farm whether it is free from threats.

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Besides this they would also test out the condition of the farm in term of its temperature, rh, nesting planks arrangement, the flying path and so on.

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The survival instinct of the swiftlets forces them to choose the best farms so that their offspring could survive and the next generation could grow. This is part of the production cycle where most animal would seek an environment that are safe and suitable.

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Imagine, what if your farm environment doesn't possess or match the requirement that the swiftlets are looking for?

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Then waiting would be no of use and no matter how long you wait then the farm would remain the same.

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After the adaptation period, Swiftlets need another 45 days (+ @-) to make nests. This process would take up to few months. Therefore if you expect to see a full nest in a month time after operation I bet you be very disappointed.

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Of course there are cases that a newly built farm that just operated for 2 months and there are nests built inside but this only happened to few farms out of thousand.

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So go and find out whether you farm has a good internal environment that would attract the swiftlets to stay and to make nests. It is better to find out now rather than 2 years

later.

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By then you would have wasted 2 years. In the 3^rd year you should be enjoying the income from the harvest. Not in the 3^rd year then only you start to revamp your farm.

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So does your farm have the right internal environment? Only you know. Like I had always said nobody knows your farm better than you do.

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To find it out today is better than to know it in 2 or 3 years time.

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Good Farming All!

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没有野生的燕子

有一个很共同地說法，如果您想要有一個成功的燕屋農場您需要吸引那些從洞或野生的燕子。 我的意思是那些野生的燕子。 (我是非常的不同意)

我想知道在这裡是否有所为的野生燕子 ？ 在沙巴和沙撈越有一些很大的山洞是有野生燕子的。 在西馬只是有少量的山洞但是也不见得有燕子。

大多数我們看見的，當做燕子測試时是從燕屋農場来的。 我可以確信地說所有的燕子。 (除了在沙巴和沙撈越做那些測試，但是.....)

要吸引從山洞的燕子来燕屋農場停留是不容易的。 雖則人们设法仿效山洞的環境情况並且希望燕子將停留並且做窝，但是它不是這样运作的。 在燕屋農場居住的燕子已经許多世代適應了燕屋農場的環境和它的情况。 如果燕屋農場被毀壞了，燕子将很难回山洞居住。

不要太过高兴如果您可以吸引野生的燕子停留和在您的燕屋農場做窝。 吸引從其他燕屋農場的燕子比從山洞的燕子是更加容易的。

实际上，有少數的研究做山洞的燕子是与燕屋農場的燕子是不同的。 (種類型)
他們在燕屋農場環境長大因此被馴化了，即使它分享一些相似性但是它还是不同的。

許多设法創造一个与山洞內部情况相似的燕屋農場，以后發現它不可能吸引任何燕子。 某些例子是： 离地板之間的15-20ft高度的天花板，修建一個仿效山洞一般大的燕屋農場等等。

或許他們忘記了，或許他們根本不知道山洞的燕子是与燕屋農場的燕子不同的。 兩個有另外生存棲所，雖然他們分享同一种食物(昆蟲)。

因此看到有以萬上的窝在燕屋農場而它的溫度是31C或更高是不普遍的，而為山洞平均溫度是在26-28C。 因為它的屎粪是有與蝙蝠和其他生物留下的，混合了從山洞的燕子糞的氣味也是不同的。 而在燕屋農場，屎粪單獨是從燕子而留下的。

這是演變和適應。燕屋農場的燕子適應了這樣的情况並且隨著時間的推移演變了。 他们之间还有許多區別的。

詳細的理解是最重要的為了能修建一個最适用的燕屋農場。 实际上，我們是修造一个能吸引其他燕子的燕屋農場而不是從山洞，不忘記。在马來西亚半岛，您能忘了野生的燕子。

大家有好燕屋!

No Wild Birds

Well it’s commonly said that if you want to have a successful farm you need to attract swiftlets from the cave or from the wild. I mean those wild birds. (I strongly disagree)

I was wondering is there anything such thing as wild swiftlets? In Sabah and Sarawak there are many huge caves some are inhibited by Swiftlets. In the West Malaysia there are just few caves some may not have swiftlets at all.

Those birds that most of us see while doing Birds Test are from farms. I could confidently say all of them. (Except those Tests that were done in S’bah & S’wak but…..)

It is not easy to attract Swiftlets from cave to stay in farm. Though human is trying to imitate the condition of cave environment and hoping that the swiftlets would stay and make nests but somehow it doesn’t work this way. The many generations of Swiftlet that lived in farms have adapted to the farm’s environment and its condition. There are unable to live in cave if all farms are destroyed.

Don’t be too happy to think you could attract wild birds to stay and make nests in your farm. It is much easier to attract Swiftlets that are from farms than from caves.

In fact there have been few researches done that the cave swiftlets is somehow different from farm swiftlets. (Hybrid type)

The farm swiftlets have been domesticated and the environments they grew up and stay are different from caves even though it shares some similarities.

Many trying to create farms that shared the internal condition similar to cave and to discover later that it couldn’t attract any Swiftlet. Some of the examples were: 15-20ft height between floor, Building a big farm to imitate the size of caves and so on.

They had forgotten or perhaps without knowing that the cave swiftlets are somehow different from farm swiftlets. Both have different living habitat though they shared the same food (insect).

So it is uncommon to see farm that have a temperature of 31C or more with thousands of nests whereas for the cave the average temperature is around 26-28C. The smell from the guano of the cave is also different as it’s mixed with Bats and other creatures dropping. Whereas in the farm the dropping are solely from Swiftlets.

This is evolution and adaptation. Farm swiftlets have adapted to such condition and evolved over time. There are many more differences between them.

In-depth understanding is utmost important in order for one to build a farm that suitable for swiftlets . In fact we’re build farms to attract young swiftlets from other peoples’ farm not swiftlet from caves don’t forget that.In Peninsular Malaysia you can forget about wild swiftlets.

Good farming all!

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不是您要什么

我也有一阵子未写部落格了，因為我是忙于許多关与特别是燕窝處理和出口的事。

你們也許想知道我发生了什麼事… 不见了 ？

不要擔心我永远在這里。 有一个說法「一旦是燕屋主永远是燕屋主」。

我怎麼可能遠離燕屋農場，它是，很致癮的我認為我不可能停止這習性。它是是很致癮的我不可能隔每小時停止考虑它。

有一个人打电话给我几分鐘前。 他想知道修建燕屋農場需要花費多少。 他說他看不到需要什么費用介入就好像在我的部落格提及的。

他說所有大概需要一些天花板来关上窗口和使用三夹板切開来做板條。

我告訴他非常好的您可以去做，您将会立刻有一個成功的燕屋農場。 通常我不會與這样的人解释也不會辯解。它是浪费时间的。 通常我會告诉他們，自從您已经決定了请继续。

燕屋農場怎麼可能不失败呢，一個对燕屋農場的一点知識也没有？

無論如何這是发生在燕屋農場行业的事。 另一個是一個讀者询问關於燕屋農場溫度的事。

他一直追问那裡是否有任何东西他可能购買或安装在他的燕屋農場里，以便可以降低溫度。

然后通过交談他透露了他的燕屋農場是20x80， 2層樓的獨立燕屋農場，使用鋅牆壁，没有用任何防热材料。 他声称在熱的天气，温度升到42C。 我问他您不知道这是不可能的吗？ 他的回復是「James,那时候我不知道燕子是不可能居住在這樣熱的情况」。

多年來我收到了不計其數的電子郵件，並且從讀者和一些的電話我會笑直到我滚地。

一大堆沒有道理的瘋狂想法。 並且大多時間它是燕屋主決定了什麼是对燕子最好根據他們的經驗和知識。 如果他們的知識是有限的当然他們修造的燕屋農場也是失败的。

一個讀者顯示我他燕屋農場的設計和他是為它而非感到常骄傲的。 他问我我的看法。 我问他為什麼牆壁在這里，為什麼是使用這些材料等等..... ？

他回復了燕子會想要飛行到那裡等等….並且告訴我燕子是怎样將飛行並且停留和最新製造的窝。 我问他這是您的假定或那是燕子告诉您的？ (當然是他的假定咯)。

他静了一陣子的聲音。我認為他恨我对他工作的批評。 怎麼能不批評呢，一个不能运作的設計。 多数是燕屋主修造一个他們喜欢的燕屋農場。實際上，有多少是修造一个適合燕子的燕屋農場？

修建一个您要的燕屋農場方式明確地將促進您的成就感，但是，實際上它會导致您遭受损失，當您在几年后还是没有看見燕窝。

不要忘記這裡主要的宗旨是修建一个燕子的燕屋農場。

大家有好燕屋!

Not what You Want!

I have not been writing that often as I was tight-up with many things related to farming especially nests processing and export.

Some of you might be wondering what happens to James…MIA liow?

Don’t worry I will always be here. There is a saying “once a swiftlet farmer always is a swiftlet farmer.”

How could I stay away from Swiftlet farming, it is so addictive I don’t think that I could kick away this habit. It is so addictive that I can’t stop thinking about it every other hour.

Someone called me just a couple of minute ago. He wanted to know how much it cost to build a farm. He said he doesn’t see much of cost involved like what I had mentioned on my blog.

He said all it needs probably some ceiling board to close the window and ply woods to cut it into nesting planks.

I told him well very good go ahead you may have a successful farm in no time. Often I won’t iron out or reason out with people like this .It is a waste of time. Often I would ask them since you had decided then go ahead.

How could the farm not fail when one has so little knowledge about swiftlets farming?

Anyway this is what happened to the swiftlet farming industry. Another one was this reader asking about things regarding temperature of farms.

He keeps on asking is there anything that he could buy or to put in his farm so that the temperature will reduce.

Later thru the conversation he reveals that his farm is a 20x80, 2 storey standalone with zinc wall without any insulation. He claimed that during the hot day temperature rises to 42C. I asked him didn’t you know it will never worked in the first place? His reply was “James at that time I didn’t know Swiftlet can’t live in such hot condition”.

Over the years I received countless of emails and calls from readers and some I would laugh till I drop dead after reading them.

All sort of crazy ideas that don’t make sense. And most of the time it is the farmers themselves decided what the best for the birds based on their experiences and knowledge. If their knowledge is somewhat poor then the farms they build would be poor too.

One reader showed me his farm’s design and he is very proud of it. He asks me for my opinion. I asked him why are the walls here, why are you using such material and so on…..?

He replied the birds would like it and would fly there and so on….and tells me how the birds would fly and stay and later making nests. I asked him is this your assumption or that is what the bird had told you? (Of course it is his assumption).

He was muted for a while..I think he hated me for criticizing his works. How could I not criticizing a design that doesn’t work. Most instances Farmers themselves are building farm to what they think and to what they like .How many actually building farms to suit the birds?

Building a farm the way you wanted would definitely boost up your sense of achievement but in reality you would end up suffering when you see no nests in few years time.

Don’t forget the main objective here is to build farms for swiftlets .

Good farming All!

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收获 (帮助增加燕子和燕窝的数量)

(從我几个月的燕屋農場的燕窝)

一個許多燕屋主共同犯的其中一些错误是延遲收穫。 這个归于無法設置一个收穫的日程表。 沒有人比你自己更知道您的燕屋農場。 您知道最明白您的燕屋農場。 燕窝的数量，燕子的数量，燕窝標號的数量，在您的區域附近的天氣，等等。

所有這些將幫助您計劃的您的收穫。 一個好計劃的收穫将幫助增加燕子和燕窝的数量。

有許多燕屋主很勉強的收穫燕窝特别是在有20-50个窝的新燕屋農場。 原因是`讓燕窝生長更多，太早不能收穫，太少不能收穫的100零 1個原因等等。 实际上，通过延遲收穫他們是防止燕窝的数量增加。

我參觀了許多失败的燕屋農場，並且經常看見那些燕窝在這些燕屋農場沒有被收穫，有些什至一些在那裡已有几個月或几年來了。 我要问了燕屋主您為什麼沒有收穫它們呢？ 回復是`如果我收穫了它們我再看不到它們」。

對他們来说它是很珍貴的。 他們害怕，如果他們收穫了所有的窝他們將永遠丟失它們。這是很自然的，在它們的小燕子飛行之後，燕子對他們的窝没有了用途。 通常他們將回收或使用回他們的老窝，從這裡您將失去每一个回收的燕窝如果它沒有被收穫的话。

实际上，如果他們收穫了它們將雙倍增加燕窝的数量。 收穫燕窝有效力的增加燕窝的成长，但是它必須是適當地計劃好和有系統的方式。

有許多燕窝的燕屋農場一個恶劣計劃的收穫不僅將影響燕窝的(未來)，而且燕子的数量，燕窝品質的数量等等。

不要害怕收穫燕窝，不管是5个窝或是10个窝。因為收穫燕窝是提高燕窝数量的技術的一部分。

這裡有一些技巧是：

- 不要在雨天或多雲的天收穫燕窝。 因为許多燕子也許在燕屋農場。 下雨天它們經常將回到燕屋農場而没有飞到别处找食物。 看见很多燕子在燕屋農場是不常见的。

- 收穫應該是在早晨開始，並且應該2.00 pm之前完成。

- 開始完成一個部分，然后移到另一個。

- 如果不必要的话，不要在燕屋農場花费太多的时间。 您的宗旨是收穫不是喝TehTarik。

- 做一个紀錄並且記下在每個的收穫有多少燕窝(日期和时间)

- 在每次收穫之後，喷上Love Potion来消滅人的氣味和創造使燕子感觉舒適的環境。

在您做了以上之後，並且在下次來收穫比較與早先紀錄的，您收穫了燕窝的数量，新燕窝的数量，燕窝的品質等等，您将會瞭解我的意思。

大家有好燕屋!