Let me share some of my little experiences,

1. Swiftlets need not return every night as they do not need a place to roost. So, if you find that today there are 100 and tomorrow, there are nil......it is still normal. Do not do any repair on the new BH as they will return if they like your new BH... within 5 days at most. Sometime, if they are desperate in finding a place to lay their eggs, they will return even tomorrow and then start to build nest.The Swiftlets can practically sleep, eat and make love in the sky and only venture into the BH to lay eggs. Today's 100 birds may not be the 100 birds you see tomorrow, but you see many birds everyday in your new BH, you are surely going to be successful. During bad weather like during monsoon time, some birds cannot return, that's why alot of chicks may die due to starvation, but not all....so I disagree with throwing away all eggs during the monsoon season because at least 50% survived and live to propagate.

2. That the reason why they have such tiny legs, very strong and very sharp.......they do not need a roosting place and just some place where the predators cannot reach and make their nests. Their main reason to return is to propagate and they will do it like the chicken in your farm. Immediately if conditions allow it.

Above are my my own observations of swiftlets and may differ from others.

Meaning to say, Sarawak enforces all operation of BH must have a permit, but they somehow gave only 2 out of the 700++ applications? I am assuming this permit is issued and comes under the local council... so far as i know PERHILITAN has no jurisdiction unless when it comes to export and cave nests, am i correct? If this is true... there can be only two main reasons... one, the BH owners do not comply to the conditions made by the local council (if someone can show us the contents of the application form/conditions, it would be nice) or there is abuse of power and someones making money out of what should be a simple shuffle of papers (if someone can prove this it would be superb!!!).

Dear West Wing, i believe your observation fits nicely with the advice a friend gave (which i intend to follow)... to never enter a newly launched BH for at least two months... the birds travel a lot, and as you said, maybe they lepaks for one night... travel... then singgah again... and the next few times becomes familiar and assumes the BH as safe... then they stay. Entering a BH would leave human smell... and signal the BH as unsafe before the shit smells can cover it (i guess la). I also agree that throwing away eggs shouldn't be done. Let nature takes it course, no need to interfere, giving them a 5 star accommodation should be good enough and there's no need to play God and decide the fates of the birds.

This post has been edited by dunsuntutmybuntut: Mar 7 2009, 11:08 PM

Dear all:

I attach herewith the link to Mr David Lim's report on the swiftlet bird nest industry issues for your kind reference.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/ynnmy21zeuw/REPORT ON THE MALAYSIA SWIFTLET NEST INDUSTRY ISSUES.doc


and the report translated in Bahasa Malaysia

http://www.mediafire.com/file/e4tnnidtzzd/LAPORAN ISU-ISU INDUSTRI SARANG BURUNG WALIT DI MALAYSIA.doc


or

the reports can also be downloaded in

http://weloveswiftletfarming.blogspot.com

This post has been edited by Engineer Lee: Mar 8 2009, 12:59 AM

2 licence is issue under their geng.1 is sedc at Bau Kuching another 1 in Mukah.btw this 2 licence already issue to them long time ago.so this time sarawakian really donno what is cooking up inside White Hair brain

This post has been edited by kuching_farmer: Mar 8 2009, 01:46 PM

Thanks Ir Lee!!! I read it a few times... but since it was made in 2002, there should be some additional points addressing the fiasco in Sarawak and revised draft guideline. Overall, it was a beautiful piece of work that covers the industry. I'm sure the author has forwarded the paper to all the relevant agencies... but from the looks of it, with minimal impact. It there any plans to resubmit together with a memorandum/petition by the association? Again an aggressive campaign may help.

kuching_farmer, do you think it is possible to post the contents of the application form of the license/permit?

hi! Good day everyone, special thank to west wing for reply my pm, other like lucas, engineer lee...thank a lot I have been reading this forum since 4 months ago, i do find a lot of advise from here(thanks again). This is my first post and i would like to share my first bh experience to you all ( pls to get advise from all of the sifus ). I just start operate my new bh 6 weeks ago, lucky to see 4~7 bird chose to stay in my bh . This is a 3 storey standalone bh 30X50 on a farmland, all the layout design are getting help from friends and this forum. (even though save a lot of money, but just can't comform is everything ok) . So, could you all sifu pls help me to check and give me some more advise.

1) my bh layout design is 30 wide X 50 long with 10 ft height, air flow (open roof) entrance 10X10ft.

2) temp- i am lucky to say my bh temp is under control 26~30'c ( my construction is using double red brick with poly~ (don't how to spell the white thing) in the middle, and plaste in and outside wall). my roof is cerment + Zling roof on the top with air flow through between cerment and Zling. must add the top roof to control under 30'c, experience more than 32'c with only cerment on the top.

3)humidity- using a chiken farm humifer each floor, operate from 11am~11:30am then 12pm~12:30 then 1pm~1:30pm, so far is 80~90. but just turn off yesterday, because one of my sifu say it will scare the bird( the motor sound). Should I turn it off since i am a new bh without any nest? if yes, when should i turn it back on. Should i change to waterpump (waterpipe with noises every 5 foot each floor) they claim it will less noise and operate only 5 minuts per day?

4)Solar system- since my bh is in farmland without any power and water, i am using solar system drsign from local company. this system is coming with audio and all the timer like auto door(close at 8pm, open at 6:30am), light, humifier, cctv. So far the system is working pretty good, because my audio is never down(touch wood). This system can be stand 7 days without sunlight.

5)smell- i am not sure about the smell since there are not so much discussion in this forum. i am only using bird drop (about 1 rice bag) for 4500qf. don't know is it enough smell? i use plastic container to mix the bird drop with water, but not sure how much the ratio is? Hope all the sifu can teach me how to solve the smell problem since i am a brand new bh. (Thank again to west wing sharing about it)

6) nesting wood plant- i using 6" merati plant. I hear some consultant say using 3 or 4" wood plant for getting higher quality nest and save cost, but finally decide to use 6" because of one story. there is a very good bh which can get 10kg nest per month for few year without any impovement, but after getting one sifu advise to change 6" to 8", then he bh got incearse to 20kg after some time.

7)speaker- buy tweeter from KL jalan pasar for rm5 each one. about 100 tweeter have install in my bh. do i got enough tweeter, since there are about 30 tweeter each floor for 1500qf? since my is air flow(open roof) entrance hole design, where do i need to aim my tweeter to? can i place my tweeter to 4 differ direction?

8)myself- since i am newbie and crazy about the bird, i am almost watch the cctv everyday pass 6 weeks, do i kacau my lovely bird , what is the time table for me to check inside the bh? I almost enter the bh every week. worry about the this...that..tweeter .

Oh man! i think i am have so many question that i can not finish to post here. Wish you all sifu here to give me command + advise. Thank you very much.

Ermm.. are you sure your birds likes the strict door opening hour regime ?? What if some birds find this house rules are not comfortable to them and decided not to stay put ?

I am really very disappointed that alot of swiftlets BH owners now are very greedy and selfish men and have follow a 45 days harvesting routing. There is a shortage of nests in the market and so many buyers are seeking Birdnest but that is not a reason to throw all your eggs.....where is your conscience..

Although, in this way is to maximize returns and in usually done in successful BH, harvesting all nests with eggs and thus, 100% return of investment within 4 years. Also, this way, you get best sizes and quality nests but the only problem, there will be not new birds fledgling out of the BHs and in 10 years, your BH population will drop by 50%. If all BHs in a certain place all follow these way of management, I regret to inform you that any new BH around will not get any bird as there are no new bird at all.

The successful BHs can maintain their output for a few years but the number will decrease as old birds die and this will be the same as what has been happening in the caves in Sarawak. I just like to know why are you all so greedy to kill off all offspring of the birds that give you gold...just because you want to maximize your income? Or just because you want to get better price for the China market which demand white neste with 3 feathers.

Are you not God fearing people? Very sad...very sad. That's is the main reason that alot of new BHs are not successful. I have known of a new BH which has 50 nests and are harvesting @45days cycle at the recommendation of his consultant.....and then after a year, renovated his BH because his BH still only has 50 nests after a year.....and who gain, the consultant !!!!! Paying again for renovation for a fail BH which maybe is successful if allow to propagate.

How are we going to achieve our goal and our national dream to be the world's no.1 producer of Birdnests if we do not allow our birds to flourish and multiply by 3 every year.

Once, I have a BH of 3 years and having over 2000 nests and in one year, the increment of 1500 nests, this kind of fairy tale can never come true nowaday. If all BHs in Malaysia follow my way, we still can have this wonderful dream....for all and not be selfish only for oneself. If I can have my way, I will fine them a thousand ringgit for a egg destroyed on propose and double that for a chick killed.

Maybe, many are scare that the government will not allow the BHs @ towns but by doing so, we get back our investment withind 4 years (only for those with a few thousand nests) but the future of the industry will be very blurred and worst for any eco park cos where to find birds if not for the towns' birds.................................

Didn't we cried when the authorised robbers killed so many Birds in Sarawak, are we not becoming like them? It is still not to late, repent now and we all will have a brighter and prosperous year ahead for all Malaysia. Let help to put Malaysia to be the world's no.1 Producer of birdnests. Malaysia Boleh !!!!

my auto gate is just to keep away from owl. I do have few 4" gap with the gate in case the door get jam.

Totally agreed with you. Why need to autogate when you have nothing at all and your time regime are out.

Turn off the autogate until you have some good result and when you really need to use it, make sure that you have the right time or else, you lose more then you can immagine.

Thanks for the advise west wing and aeiou. But my land got quite a few of owl, should i turn it off now? how to monitor the right time in the future?

Hi Siewann,

100 tweeters for 3-storey standalone BH is not enough. Bird like to make nest near tweeter. For me, I have 100 tweeters in 20x70 shop lot (1 floor). You need to apply aroma also in additional to bird shit.


http://yenyen-swiftlet-farming.blogspot.com/

As west wing said, you have nothing inside yet so don't bother to close the gate. Since you opted open roof entrance, chances of owl diving in is lessen ( please correct me if I'm wrong).

My open roof entrance hole is 6' by 6' and yours is 10' by 10'. can any sifu give commend about size of open roof opening hole ?

3)humidity- using a chiken farm humifer each floor, operate from 11am~11:30am then 12pm~12:30 then 1pm~1:30pm, so far is 80~90. but just turn off yesterday, because one of my sifu say it will scare the bird( the motor sound). Should I turn it off since i am a new bh without any nest? if yes, when should i turn it back on. Should i change to waterpump (waterpipe with noises every 5 foot each floor) they claim it will less noise and operate only 5 minuts per day?

why not using hygrostat to control and add more pale of water inside nesting area ?

[quote=siewann,Mar 8 2009, 10:32 PM]



4)Solar system- since my bh is in farmland without any power and water, i am using solar system drsign from local company. this system is coming with audio and all the timer like auto door(close at 8pm, open at 6:30am), light, humifier, cctv. So far the system is working pretty good, because my audio is never down(touch wood). This system can be stand 7 days without sunlight.


This kind of technique are rare in swiftlet farming..........
Solar system....... Where to get the water supply for humidifier ???? Can share ????????
How much is the total cost for the system ?????? Can introduce the supplier ??????????
Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Use electric shock type. Place the electric line at the bottom of your entrance hole as the owl will first rest on the entrance hole before entering BH so as to ensure there is no human or trap in the BH. Once the owl touches to electrical line of low voltage but high amp, if the owl still live, they will remember for the rest of their life not to venture into you BH and the lines are safe for human. Also, the lines have no effect on the swiftlets as they don not touch the 2 wires at one time. Any predator like giant lizard or snake too will remember the trill of being electrified.

Someone who have electrical qualifications may want to give some advice on the topic.

6'x6' for open roof too small for today's new BH. Flying pattern entering hole totally different from side hole entrance. So cannot follow side hole entrance size lah. 10'x10' consider minimum for my personal standard. Personally prefer 4mx4m.

But West Wing, siewaan's BH is open roof leh... But does owl nose dive to open roof entrance hole when they fly ?

LOL You finally emerged. Thank for the advice. will seeing you soon