I have heard of many Consultants and Expert in Swiftlets farming giving lecture in KK and I do beleive that there are many readers here that might have attended their lectures and seminars on swiftlets. Topics like "How to be a millionair" " imagine everyday the owner can harvest a kilogram for the rest of his life !" stories. Really, how many have succeed and how many have fail even after attending these lectures.

I asked because I am sincerely concerned and I wish and want all well.....even not to the extend to become a millionaire overnight or over a year; at least, be able to pay for the bank interest and still have some to makan.

Please do remember that everything that I did and said are for the good of the swiftlets and to ensure that swiftlets be protected, I need to first ensure that the breeders can make profit from protecting the birds..

Long ago, swifltets are only found in lime caves and the only reason that they migrated to our deserted buildings are to find safety from predators esp. Man. Here, we have a group of people willing to save them by providing these helpless birds with sanctuaries but obviously on certain condititions and terms......providing that there is rewards in doing so. Now, the birds maybe becomign so used to us that they have become AF Domesticated. If so, they can no longer return to the lime caves anymore, else, they will die.

This is a money world and as so, there must be a reason for us to do anything no matter what we did. Like we pray, we did it so that our life be better and our family be healthy and happy. We pray for all the goodness and our donations are no purely for unselfishness but that, we believe by giving goodness to others, goodness will come to us...... be money conscious good but no greedy as too fast and too much gold can kill you.

So, I am not special, too as I also gain from swiftlets and for that, I need to repay their kindness and wealth so I did my best to help others to be succssful...the chances for the swiftlet to populate and expand......

So, for Sabahan BH owners, if you are successful and do make from BH investment, I ama very happy for you and if you failed...Failed or SUccess, we wish to know all and maybe iby knowing more there, we be able to help all to sustain and improve your abilities to make enough money to stay and provide the swiftlets with safe sanctuaries.


So, Sabahan BH owners esp. failed ones, nothing to loss but all to gain if any........ We can all share and study and hopefully be able to provide you with a solution to your problems if any. ...or best if successful, be able to help new comers to overcome teething problems which may affect my friend if he started his BHs which honestly, I just agreed and provide my tiny understandings of swiftlets for free....and even sacrifice 3 days buz income for him.

Hope that he provides me with free makan and logging....hahaha. Hope to hear from friends from Sabah.

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Added on February 17, 2011, 10:25 amYes, agree cos swiftlets are the same....if you move too fast, accidents with swiftlets occur so you need to move slowly to ensure that the swiftlets can detect your location in darkness. So, with swift and fast movement of the nets, you can catch bats....and relocate them far away......remember these bats shouldn't be on your dinner plate...hahaha

This post has been edited by West Wing: Feb 17 2011, 10:27 AM

It's deadly game indeed! Incidentally, a foreign worker dropped dead from the 4th floor at first day of work in the swiftlet farm in Bahau as reported in the news as follow:- http://mykampung.sinchew.com.my/node/131708?tid

This reminded me of my foreign worker came to clean the house the first time mistaken my birds as chickens and I've to remind him danger in the same area every time when it comes to cleaning and he learned without single accident. It's the responsibility of all BH managers to take precautionary measures to prevent BH accidents starting from the design of entry holes. Your design of inter holes is really noteworthy.

This post has been edited by swift4ever: Feb 17 2011, 11:01 AM

Turn on the light while harvesting and or cleaning the BH.

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Added on February 17, 2011, 4:15 pmSo far i never any thailand authorities that burn down any BH. Our BH spread in southen thailand but never heard of it. Is it possible to find out the exact location, so that i get prepare for the worst. thanks.

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Added on February 17, 2011, 4:26 pmi. Sabah has cold season, therefore, not that suitable for bird nest farming. Unless your BH can design in a way that esp. at night maintaining the temperature max. not lower than 24'C. Anything below that, not able to breed i.e. can not hatch (incubation fail).
ii. Must be far enough from cave cos so far noone can design BH that better than cave.

This post has been edited by Rangnok: Feb 17 2011, 04:26 PM

[quote=Rangnok,Feb 17 2011, 12:57 PM]Turn on the light while harvesting and or cleaning the BH.

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Added on February 17, 2011, 4:15 pm
So far i never any thailand authorities that burn down any BH. Our BH spread in southen thailand but never heard of it. Is it possible to find out the exact location, so that i get prepare for the worst. thanks.

[/quote]


Don't you worry, the news was about 15 years ago from a BH consultant but it's not a matter if the news is real or fake at that time but the warning still remain. That is if a chicken farm next to your BH happened to get H1n1 or worst H5N1, the possibility of the swiftlet getting the disease increase, then the authorities will destroy every birds in the BH and all birds including chicks and eggs in the 5 km radius and maybe, my friend must be talking about a wooden BH at some remote area and the Thai authorities must have burned it down....15 years ago.

So, in our trade, we really need to be very careful and take all precaution to prevent any such incident from happening even we all know that swiftlets @ present will not get the disease but with the new method of farming swiftlets, anything can happened if not careful. With our free to come, free to go swiftlets, there isn't a reason to be afraid cos our swiftlets will not get the deadly diseases unless thru human intervention. (Presently, we only provide the swiftlets with a safe sanctuary to breed). Be Happy

By the way, how much can I get for a kilo of nests in Thailand?

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Added on February 17, 2011, 5:05 pm

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Added on February 17, 2011, 4:26 pm
i. Sabah has cold season, therefore, not that suitable for bird nest farming. Unless your BH can design in a way that esp. at night maintaining the temperature max. not lower than 24'C. Anything below that, not able to breed i.e. can not hatch (incubation fail).
ii. Must be far enough from cave cos so far noone can design BH that better than cave.

[/quote]




TQ and if it's the only problem then there is no problem. If we human can even stay alive @ North or South Poles...so, with some modifications in BH and some try and errors, we will overcome the night dropping of temperature.

This post has been edited by West Wing: Feb 17 2011, 05:05 PM

I just came back from my hometown and help my parents with their bird house as well. They add another 2 humidifiers in the upper stair. Total up 4 humdifiers, 2 each room. But as usual, my parents didnt put humidifier in the downstair ( most populated area). Last few months were mating months? Because i saw alot of new swiftlets flying around. And manage to harvest more than usual (4.5kg). We were surprised because normally we harvest twice a month which total up around 1.5-2kg. I did count the bird nests too. I noticed the increment not so fast compared to last time. From august to december last year, increase from 1.3k to 1.7k nests. But as long there are increment, we will be happy. We are rural folks anyways except im studying at town right now. The bird shit seriously make me nearly fainted even i did wear my mask . So i asked my mum, "ma, go buy oxygen tanks like diver use one", and she laughed. Are the bird shit harmful?

So far i found few problems. The first problem with my BH is that there are lizards. Not sure got mouse or not. But i think my parents found few solutions for it. I will try to discuss with them more when i am on holiday which is next week. They operate the humidifer for 3 times a day. 45mins each time. Sometime im worried if it is too much or too little . Should i get thermostat instead? And i told my mum to use fujibin humidifer for downstair one. Just use one since the fujibin humidifier can cover a large area.

I have lizard problem too, please share how your parents over come the situation.

i think they are using some sort of chemical product/potion or whatever it is. Im not really sure yet but they told me the liquid thing actually is to prevent ants from entering the BH. Odourless chemical i believe. Lets see how effective it is when i go back next week.
Just to share some of my BH pics: note the 2nd picture. The last plank is too close to the wall. That time constructor

This post has been edited by mois: Feb 18 2011, 06:04 PM


Attached thumbnail(s)

From my experience,

1. I have in thousands of nests BH regularly and the smell is serious but I am still alive and well and worst, I don't wear any mask as I can't breath thru mask and feel very uncomfortable with them. That's proved that it's harmless but then, if you not healthy, you may faint so try to clean your BH more regularly to prevent the ammonia from BS as according to doctors, it's dangerous and bad for health to inhale too much of ammonia gasses. Oyes, in my BH, I would aften have s closed window in every floor so that when I am in the BH, I would open the window and let fresh air in.

2. By the way you describe the situation, you must have wet floor to create so much of gasses or otherwise you must have thousands of birds to produce similar effect.
3. Comparison with last year or any year is wrong as different time, different climate and almost everything can make a difference and the worst is the way you manage your BH. As I always mentioned, when the good is going, maintain the way and don't be stupid to follow blindly to any consultant's advice....not even mine!!!!
4. I have lizard problem, too but then, we manage to kill them so we need not use any chemical but I do heat that there is lizard stick and food to eliminate the pest...

5. Ultrasonic Humidifier has its problem like you need very clean water and maintenance is rather high. Break down more regularly but I do like the mist and not wet floor...feeling like you are in heaven ..hahaha. Furthermore, birds don't mind the ultrasound create by the UH.....honest
remarks by me!!!

6. As for the danger of UH posted by CoolAndy, you need to check it out. Best of luck to you , my friend.

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Added on February 20, 2011, 11:11 amFor a new BH, in my opinion, it is best not to use any chemical even that the products seller may tell you that it's safe cos the seller may not know anything about BH or just pure good salesmanship. In the end, you lose or win but he still gain no matter what the outcome so beware....

Last Friday, I just went to visit 2 3S BHs (25x80) for sales @ RM520 K each with an acre of wet land @ Pekan. Over 6 months and after viewing the BH, I feel sad for the owners as the conditions and methods are not to my expectation of BH sanctuary specifications. On the way to the location, over 50 BHs can be seen by the lane and what about the interior which is not visible to my eyes......I went into the BH, the smell is not what I expect a BH should smell and too many even to comment.

If he is selling @ cost, then I will buy and try my luck but at the price quoted then I need to consider or recommending them to my friends to invest there as we will need to spend alot of money and also the location is too far and also at that area over 10 BHs, all not succefull.....so the competition to lure swiftlets is very high and difficult. Area suitable but everybody fighting for survival and that why I am against Eco Park concept in the first place for if too many BHs at ond location it's itself create a difficulty to gather enough birds to sustain and generate enough income to justified investment. The older BHs at the location will be better as they have an early start in the race.

Any buyers here interested, I can introduce the broker to you without any commission or kickback to me. There are many sellers @ Pekan and even failed BHs, some sellers are offering high prices for their BHs. One BH (3years) with just 200 nests is asking for 1.2M.

So, before you jump the Gun, make sure that your money is well invested at good location and with good consultant or contractor. Even if you failed, then you will get back all your money invested but don't expect to make alot of money for a failed BH unless the new intended buyer is a Fool.

Above is just my opinions on the matter concerning BH investment.

This post has been edited by West Wing: Feb 20 2011, 11:11 AM

thanks for sharing WW.

Actually my area is rural and it is near the end of Sungai Rejang which connects to China sea. We are not the pioneer BH, because we build in 2008. The earliest is around 8-9 years ago. Around 3 BHs were built that time. Without them, i dont think our BH can be successful. . Pure luck i guess.

You said u enter ur BH without wearing mask? . How can u survive the smell? Even my eyes feel 'pedas' when clean the BS. How frequent do u enter ur BH for checking?

With the mask on, the max. time I last is approximate less than 1 hour then I feel heavy in the head maybe due to shortage of breath but without the mask, I am totally at home with the swiftlets but not the ticks. I can last 5 hours without problems.

Now, we don't swipe the BS, we drag it along with our home made tool to pull all BS to a location closed to the entrance when there is free flow of air. Here, we scope up the BS into bags and roll them down the stairs, saving alot of energy. Long ago, the most difficult work is to carry the used fertilizer bags down the stairs and now with the new method off rolling them down the stairs, more of fun than of work....just like doing bowling them down the stairs.

We have gone thru all the sufferings during the years and nowaday, the newbizs can learn from our mistakes and ways so it's easier for them. Long ago, I need to blow my nose under the water to clear the dust accumulated in the nose but I am still alive and well. The last X ray show nothing. So, you see how safe but maybe I am the lucky one so don't try my way, use good mask.

Oh D smell....just say that when you are used to it like me, you learn to like it and that's why I can say if your BH don't smell like a BH hahahaha
Honestly, the smell isn't a problem but be careful when you sweat and if the BS dust get to your tight pant, your thigh burns when sweat mix with BS to create acid and burn under your pant. So,, do wear a loose pant in the BH and forget about all pests if any, they aren't dangerous to you....That's my X-periance. Pedas is when you get the BS dust into your eyes and mix with your tear like the above reason .....acidic lah.

This post has been edited by West Wing: Feb 20 2011, 06:35 PM

Rubber plantations produces swarms of mosquitoes as they breed in the rain water collected in the clay cups or plastic bags used to collect latex. Mosquitoes are good food for swiftlets but not too good for humans. Millions of human are killed by mosquitoes every year. So one can safely claim that swiftlet faming is safer than rubber plantations.

There is almost zero mosquitoes in oil palm plantations.... no breeding places for them and as you said there are lots of other insects for the switlet. So imho BH & oil palm plantation is good combination.

Fruit trees are great eco systems - attracting ants, musang, bats, flying fox, squirels etc etc that in turn attracts snakes, owl, eagles etc etc quite interesting if you like to observe wild life but can be distressing when some of them starts to make their way into your BH.

[quote=swiftcurrent,Feb 21 2011, 05:20 PM]
Any disagreement, kindly post it here to share.

[/quote]

Rubber plantations produces swarms of mosquitoes as they breed in the rain water collected in the clay cups or plastic bags used to collect latex. Mosquitoes are good food for swiftlets but not too good for humans. Millions of human are killed by mosquitoes every year. So one can safely claim that swiftlet faming is safer than rubber plantations.

There is almost zero mosquitoes in oil palm plantations.... no breeding places for them and as you said there are lots of other insects for the switlet. So imho BH & oil palm plantation is good combination.

Fruit trees are great eco systems - attracting ants, musang, bats, flying fox, squirels etc etc that in turn attracts snakes, owl, eagles etc etc quite interesting if you like to observe wild life but can be distressing when some of them starts to make their way into your BH.

[/quote]

Hi Jackie,

From what I see so far, BH @ rubber plantation aren't doing well although initially, I do feel that rubber plantation and BH can mix well and should be encourage but then after abserving many failures @ rubber plantation, I feel that it must be the tapping of the rubber trees causing a very negative smell and unknown that the swiftlets don't like. Here, is for you guys to find out why or if I am wrong cos some place, rubber plantation BHs has thousand of nests due to the availability of mosquitoes in the rubber estate. Anyway, as long as mosquitoes stay in among the rubber trees, there isn't a way for the swiftlets to get to the mosquitoes.

Fruits trees like rambutan attract ants and red giant ants and bats. Tall fruit trees are good place for predators of swiftlets to wait and prey on the swiftlets in the BH. The swiftlets are helpless once they are inside the BH and are sitting ducks for the predators.

[/quote]

Hi Jackie,

From what I see so far, BH @ rubber plantation aren't doing well although initially, I do feel that rubber plantation and BH can mix well and should be encourage but then after abserving many failures @ rubber plantation, I feel that it must be the tapping of the rubber trees causing a very negative smell and unknown that the swiftlets don't like. Here, is for you guys to find out why or if I am wrong cos some place, rubber plantation BHs has thousand of nests due to the availability of mosquitoes in the rubber estate. Anyway, as long as mosquitoes stay in among the rubber trees, there isn't a way for the swiftlets to get to the mosquitoes.

Fruits trees like rambutan attract ants and red giant ants and bats. Tall fruit trees are good place for predators of swiftlets to wait and prey on the swiftlets in the BH. The swiftlets are helpless once they are inside the BH and are sitting ducks for the predators.

[/quote]

You are right, the mosquitoes are unlikely to fly above the rubber plantation canopies and the swiftlets don't like to fly underneath the canopy so the mosquitoes in rubber plantations is unlikely to be a food source for the swiftlets. Even in oil palm plantations the swiftlets stays above the canopy to feed on insects.

The use of formic acids to coagulate the latex in some of the plantations causes a strong pungent smell and the swiftlets might not like it. So maybe those BH in plantations that regularly process rubber may not do well. There is no smell from the latex but since we are not swiftlet we may not be able to detect some of the scents that they don't like.

WW sifu,
bh newbies queries:
1) for new bh(20' x90'), how many birdshit (kg) needed the best?
2) b4 on the sound, how long (days) to let birdshit smell make effect?
3) lizard...heard the sound but couldnt locate where it is? wht the best method to locate them?

thx in advance for opinions (all sifus' r welcome if available).

Hi everybody,

what do you think of starting BH at those totally deserted row of shophouse ?
The plan is to buy the top floor of 3-4 units across and tear down the wall.

My relative and his friend want to JV with me but that place is about 400km away from my home.
This would be a problem as I cannot visit the BH as frequently as them to look for problems and solve it. Very paiseh if just be sitting investor.

Let me know your opinions.
Thank you.




by the way ... I got the extendable ladder from a hardware store near my BH
The owner very friendly guy even tell us his commission
cost slightly over RM300 for 12feet + 12feet 2 section

This post has been edited by BirdNest_Satay: Feb 22 2011, 04:07 PM

Hopefully, we can many forum friends discussing here and hope to receive feedback from all. Below are all my opinions only.

1) There isn't a specifications on how much is needed but rather if you need it or not. If you need it, then get the best of it and that's fresh BS for performance or you may want to use processed BS......
2) Again, there is no standard for it and if your BS is really good and there are lots of birds in the sky, with good sound, immediate result may occur and birds will rush it and check out your BH. Checking it out doesn't mean they will be staying cos it need more that BS to do the trick. Other factors are needed and pls. read V1, V2 and V3. Many books on swiftlets although most are for newbizs will give you the information you need.
3) Lizards???? I can't help you on this as I don't have this problem as all L are either dead or disappear in my BHs. Someone pls. help here.

May we have other view or comments on the matters.

thxs for your opinion
i m looking for bs, any supplier near kmn?
how nice to hear all lizard die at yor bh w/o doing anything
i m not lizard killer but need to chase them out, otherwise will be a disaster for my new bh

If you are from Kmn. then it shouldn't be a problem at all. Phone up your friends in the BH Buz and they will gladly get BS when they do the cleaning..............Kmn. BH owners are all friends and can share many others including BS.. Hope that help.

Dear all swiflet owners,

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Email: andylow@yeehup.com

thx in advance.