Hai, i am new in swiftlet keeping, just want to know how often should we clean the bird shit? heard some sifu said we are not suppose to clean the bird shit since bird like their smell very much.....thanks for advice

In case you don't have the bird call song, you can get it here:

http://www.4shared.com/audio/cMzEdGH7/cek_...niawalet_ar.htm

If you have a very loud mobile phone, you can play it with your phone when you visit the site. Else get a portable mp3 player. Good luck!

@Ryu, just my suggestion

1. Sounds like your BH is too dry so humudifier is a good idea.
2. This can be good too.
3. Should replace faulty tweeter and external sound, not sure abt changing sound.
4. no comment
5. Can't be total dark as well.

BTW 330 nest in a shop lot with other BHs around can be considered very successful already, just do modifications step by step and look at the results.

Don't change everything 180 in 1 day then all your birds fly to neighbor's BH.

Do visit a swiftlets cave  and get your answer.

Cleaning is maintain health and better nests cos most BHs are too low and polution @ birdnests.

For those very particular on nests quality, do clean more often
For those very particular on birds increment. do less cleaning

My suggestion

Never clean up when new cos you want the aroma and not willing to pay for the smell and what better than the origin smell.
Clean occasionally when OK cos you don't want to disturb too much but want to have a healthy BH.
Clean often when very successful as then, quality is what you want and volume isn't a topic at all.

Hi All Sifus,

This is my first post in this topic n I am new in swiftlets farming. 

I got around 330 nest in 1.5 years and I am surrounded by 6 BH shops in the same row n back row. 
Location in Pahang. 

Right beside my shops has 3 BH in a row and the last one has around 1000 nest where that BH open 1 month earlier than mine. 

Last week, I have done a few modification.
1. install a mist pump in the BH since almost all nest are broken n funny shape. 
2. Took away the partition to make the room bigger. 
3. Changed the so call better internal and external
 sound. 
4. Took away the "tongkat" at the top of the roof.
5. Cover all small holes here n there to make the resting area in total dark if possible. 

Are above modification correct?
Is there anything  else that I can do to increase the birds in my BH shop?

Please help. 

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Added on September 14, 2011, 1:52 pmI have just renew my BH shop license yesterday. It's yearly basis.

The lady told me that they are upgrading their system. By early next year, we can renew our swiftlets license on 3 years basis.

Cheers

hai....it is rainy days everyday in malaysia.........

storms are building up too....hopefully not tsunami......wipe out the whole industry...

Rumours are plenty....that group want monopoly of the whole industry...

another group act as representatives of farmers but have another bigger plan to monopoly too...

then another group said they are the robin hood and just in case if those group gets what they want to monopoly, they can come n rescue us woh as they have enough power to grab a slice of that monopoly cake woh...
while the birds population in major towns in peninsular are dropping or stagnant, worst...bird's nests prices are dropping liked coconut.....coconut drop u can still hear sounds.....but this one no sound at all...
heard that they are implementing RFID where each time u enter the farm, u need to accompany by an officer to enter the farm, and when harvest finish u placed the harvesting in boxes n seal with the RFID sticker then send to approved factory (10 factories that already get their licences fr VET), sell to them at market price. and this is to ensure the quality of bird's nest woh...

Thanks for your advice, bro

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Added on September 15, 2011, 2:08 pm
I am from langkawi, my bird house not yet open sound but just now one officer came and ask me to apply for license, is it hard to get a license?

Hi WW.

<Cleaning is maintain health and better nests cos most BHs are too low and polution @ birdnests.>

When you do the cleaning, do you clean up everything or have to leave some
behind for the smell?
Ans: I don't need to leave any behind cos tomorrow, there will be plentiful.

<For those very particular on nests quality, do clean more often>

I heard that after some time, they will be mites built up in the birds' poop.  The mite will bite and suck the blood of baby birds and will also left one's skin itchy.  How to deal with this mite. Using chemical will leave a strong smell which might drive the birds away?
Ans: When you need chemical spray....you are already there and no problem with the birds; just you with the chemical. Although, we really don't know the prolong usage of chemical in the BH but then, to control pest and mites, one need to use the chemical spray but I only use it when I find that I need it but not on regular basis like many others cos I believe a bite here and there is less dangerous than the chemical inhale into our lung. Maybe, once every 6 months for successful BHs will just do.

<Never clean up when new cos you want the aroma and not willing to pay for the smell and what better than the origin smell.>

I heard one guy recommended that for new BH,for first 2 years do not do any harvesting as this method will speed up the population in the building.
Ans: As for me, it's all depend on the performance of that particular BH but never harvest all but leave some nests to tempt other new birds to build nest near confidently. That's why you use fake nests, don't you?

I do not understand as once the fledging left the nest, the nest will not be recycle again.  Birds will build new nest for fresh lay.  If so, how does not harvesting helps in the multiplication of birds???
Ans: once used, the bird will reuse the nest if not harvested but will build it thicker and so you got thicker nest which will fetch lower price but you gain on time.

<Clean occasionally when OK cos you don't want to disturb too much but want to have a healthy BH.
Clean often when very successful as then, quality is what you want andnvolume isn't a topic at all.>

Very good advice.  My appreciation.    

WW, have you heard of a big project for BH in Jerangau, somewhere near the polo club.  News or rumours that 40% harvest there is blood nest!!!  I thought West Malaysia do not have blood nest, very confuse 

Ans: Don't want to talk too much on the matter but just say that you can produce a square watermelon so why cannot red nest but not the purest form of nests that I can say.

Thank you in advance for your time and effort in here.

Have a good day.

Hi WW.

<.....WW, have you heard of a big project for BH in Jerangau, somewhere near the polo club. News or rumours that 40% harvest there is blood nest!!! I thought West Malaysia do not have blood nest, very confuse  ..............

heard that they are implementing RFID where each time u enter the farm, u need to accompany by an officer to enter the farm, and when harvest finish u placed the harvesting in boxes n seal with the RFID sticker then send to approved factory (10 factories that already get their licences fr VET), sell to them at market price. and this is to ensure the quality of bird's nest woh...

officer need to follow u enter the farm as they need to scan the gps tracker installed (u have to buy from them loh)  in your farm n to record the date n place those nests harvested from which farm... then only they have records woh..

Any idea when the price will back to rm4k? What is the reasonable price to sell?