Most of the ppl have their own customers... Some sell raw, some sell processed...
Ofc the best is to export but licenses required are a pain in the ass. So far, only 2 person i knew had export license. Others only have license between east n west malaysia.

[B]Why is it so difficult to get an export licence when the Govt is projecting an image that we wanted to be No. 1 exporter.  How to be No. 1 if only 2 licenced export???

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Added on June 27, 2011, 12:00 pm

That is true. It has cause a price drop in EBN. This is mainly due to some players in the industry who wants fast money. Too much chemical used in cleaning process or using other substance to increase their revenue.

[/B]Any want knows what is the current price range like now?  Any latest news on what the G2G news?  Association seems very quiet and I do not see any news in english newspapre.

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Added on June 27, 2011, 2:36 pm[b]Any1 here experienced with Gecko, Lizard, Cicak in birdhouse?

Today, I saw a HUGE lizard in my bird house. Any1 know any good way to get rid of it other than using spray? Any1 with first hand experience dealing with them?

Its SO BIG!!! 6" in length! Haha

I am not so worried abt them eating the nests... But ma precious eggs!
I know they eat the bird nests, how abt eggs? What species eat eggs? what doesn't?

I agreed.....The intention of CAP is good but sometime what written are absurd and rubbish. That's why like suggestions and advices given here are mostly good intentions, take only what you think is right and ignore the rest...

From what I heard, the formal course attended cannot be use as the V-dept comes up with a new 1GP course and to get the license to operate, one must has the new 1GP certificate; again another fees to pay to the V-Department and the course is similar to the formal course provided by the V-Dept, I can predict.

Oyes, the 1GP booklet will be sold for Rm15 and can be obtain @ V-Dept thru internet and Dr. F stressed that no one should photostat the booklet as it's copyrighted and copying is a serious offence.......... copyright OK but why don't allow Malaysians in the buz to copy if cannot get one copy which The authorities want all in the buz to know and follow; let all copy and learn if that's what the Govt. wants.

Again that's my personal opinion only.

Bro,
this much i can tell you from his own mouth.
"last 10 years i have constructed an average of 3 bhs per month with 100% success rate, and my best was 75 markings after 3 weeks, at kalimantan" believe it or not up to you.

can use anything as long as there will sound coming out,
as for the finer points,
look for the size of birds coming, if more young birds better chances
the numbers of birds ; they say min 200
Tip: i have acquired a place at anytime, thousands of birds.

1. flying route  try morning 0700 - 0900, or evening 1600 - 1900
2. forging area . anytime.
3. central - no need testing just do it right the first time.

He means foraging area, place the birds cari makan.

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Added on July 22, 2011, 5:50 pmAll these talk about consultants let me share mine. When I first started this about 4-5 years ago, I paid a consultant like 60k just to do the nesting planks and sound for a 3 story 22x72 BH.

I can probably do it for 1/4 the cost myself today, but the point is the entry into this business is pretty tough. You know the Chinaman mentality, nobody will share unless you pay. You can goto seminars and look at their wonderful pictures of BHs, but when you ask any of them to visit their BH, you will get a look as if you're ET that just arrived on earth.

Of course, being an engineer myself I'm quick to learn the trade and now I can build and design my own BH. But the very first time, sometimes you just have to kena 'chop' one time before you learn.

Nobody can guarantee your 1st BH will be 100% successful, no matter how many books and BHs you visit, your BH design has to conform to your land's topography. But one thing for sure is, if you never try then you will never succeed

You identify them visually, that is mature ones are larger and fledglings are smaller.

However, I wear glasses so I'm not very good at identifying them unless they are real close

Old sifus like WW should be very good at identifying them

Even that the birds fly high, by looking and observing the movement of birds, one can tell if the bird is just fledged, young or old birds. Although not 100% but at least you can tell.

Those who chase and talks alot are definitely old ones like me who talks and talks none stop.

Do one day observe the birds with a experience owner and very easily you will be able to determine if the birds is new, old and maybe get it right even "your birds" as your senior birds need not think twice before entering the BH and new ones will hesitate before entering, my friend. Just be observance and see and you will find it easy to understand...like when I started the BH, I don't even can differentiate the  swiftlet for the swallow or martin but then by close observation, I learn the differences between them; even that the swiftlets in the BH are of many sub species to be exact....although we refer to them AF only.

Many things that we think are right because someone did mentioned it or written it but most of it, we didn't do a study on it as we are in for the nests and not to understand all about swiftlets; just on how to populate the BH and to make more and more nests...bigger and whiter ones if possible. Others, not really very concerned like if the birds may have more than one mate, cheat on the mate or do the birds chose another mate after the mate dies.........we will care and will try if it concern the improvement of nests in quality, quantity and price.

Above are just my observation to share and pls. comment.

"酵素和過濾水可以減低燕窩的亞硝酸鹽成份，但也不能達致零..."

"Enzyme and filtered water can be used to reduce nitrate content..."
Correct me if I am wrong,  EM is used only at source but not at processing plants unless there exists a new formula to use both at processing plants which I am not aware.

該部將會展開一項追蹤行動，以揪出製造假燕窩的奸商
Tracking the processing plants that do fake bird nests, not necessary farms.

If EM is too costly to make and use, I don't think many new farmers can afford it even if it can help contribute
to food safety as well. How about DVS giving out free if it is still not cheap to buy from all sources. I sure hope some other forms of  subsidy provided other than loans.

Sure thing, try not to build BH above makan shop or next to one and you may experience the same difficulty like a friend many years ago.

Case history: Years ago, a BH owner built a BH next to a Chinese Restoran and since than, no bird for more than 2 years and finally, he understand why. The exhaust out of the makan shop facing his BH. He appeal to the maken shop owner to allow him to divert the opening of the smoking gun away from his BH and although not very good, his BH do has birds staying and increment and inprovement since the diverting of the smoking gun.

Experience to share.

The price is determined by middleman/agents for exporters in HK and Indo. They are the biggest players in this industry as they have been doing this for decades.

There is no website like lowyat with a price list to check price of BN as far as I know. You call up a few middleman/agents you've dealt with before and you'll get an idea of what the current market prices are.

If it's true, it still has no much effect on our birdnests as

1. Less than 10% of our nests is processed locally
2. Most of our nests are exported to Indo as Indo higher grade nests so it shall be considered as Indo nests as is not include in the Ban anyway.
3. Most of the Indo nests are to HK and then to China which is never affected by any ban.
4. If our processed nests contained unhealthy chemical, it's the processing industry that need to toe the line and someway, somewhat, somebody is playing dirty and cause concerned in China or someone is trying so hard to destroy our export of processed nests or someone having hidden agenda like trying to monopolies the market for themselves.
5. Our Malaysian nests was given the green light and tax free by the chinese govt. then and all other Asian countries are not allowed tax free but what and how come that our nests now have problem with the Chinese authorities.
6. Somewhere, somehow and somewhat, something fishes is giving bad smell to our nests and this Malaysia Govt. must look into.

The authorities should do researches on way to improve quality, quantity and study on food sources of the swiftlets. We do know that swiftlets do feed on large variety of insects but what does the swiftlet really prefer because in the wild. the swiftlets do not have a choice of food and will take all types if able and when available. Or if the swiftlet do need a large variety of insects to produce nests. We do have own theories on what temperature, conditions and others which we do take for granted just that we feel more safe with the methods but then it may be wrong or prefect.

Just because we are successful, that doesn't mean that all what we did are all correct and maybe we are just lucky to be at the right place at the right time and like me, just many times lucky. There isn't any scientific and real evidence to prove what we did is prefect for swiftlets unless someone did a survey and study on these topics and prove that what we did all these while are right and not just plain lucky but luck isn't all in this trade and you do need alot of expertise and knowledge.

Those who are doing master or PHD in the field should do a study on these projects and I believe that you will be easier to submit a project or thesis as there aren't many peers in this field out there to prove you otherwise. 

Only my opinion to share on my favorite subject.

I think the press conference was held in Zhe Jiang province, south of Shanghai.

They must have tagged the two Indonesian as Malaysian Datuk by the same mistake that they tagged the Indonesian processed EBN as Made-in-Malaysia. 

The gov acting and tipu now for the final purpose that all export Birdnest must via the gov sub company. The gov want to control with same selfish private boss. No more freedom of business. Tq

here you can get from SAM, G1L4 at RM360, and RM130 for G3L0, of course if you travel to indonesia you can get much cheaper there. .  about 35% less. (sam also do home deliver where you pay minimal charge for courier service )
if anyone interested to get them direct from indo can inbox me,, they will also do hotel or airport deliver..

THE MALAYSIA HERO,,,,,,,,,,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THqWbEt6auA
MANY HERE R HIS FOLLOWS,,,,,,