Same but Different

Bottom angle view




Bottom angle tilt view

Planks have finally arrived after more than one month delay. I'm not too sure why but guess they seldom do the sizes as requested. It's not 1"x6" as normally used by many. Rather, it's 1"x8" sandwiched by 2"x4" on both sides. For some, it's more artistic than realistic design, but I have stuck this sandwich in 2 other BHs previously with some results. So, I am doing it once again with even more sandwiches in new one. Pictures posted above are taken from one of the BHs I did and do enjoy it if you haven't seen it anywhere else before.

Patience and Love

I have come to a crossroads in swiftlet farming recently and wondered whether I really should continue my blogging further. The reason being the competition has arisen nearby, a new standalone BH is also started construction and more to come. If I go on with posting my thoughts about my standalone BH, sharing the only edge gained through accumulated experience over the years, wouldn't I lose the competitive edge to others? What if birds are just passing through in this area, contrary to my expectations as a last breeding destination? What if the chosen site of my BH is so-so compared to others. But to put things in perspective, competition for birds doesn't happen only to me and I believe it is good to have competition in swiftlet farming as long as competition brings more birds to the open sky. To me, swiftlet farming is all about love and patience for birds, moneytary gain is secondary motivation. If you don't care about bird's predators and bugs and care much less about harvesting their nests at appropriate season, how can you help them create an environment conducive to roost and breed? If you're one of those people who is impatient to wait for birds after you have built new or renovated a house, how do you know birds already knew you have done the renovation without giving them time to explore and adapt? In other words, It's all about adopting and maintaining right attitude towards the birds, one of the prerequisites for success in swiftlet farming with only question is how long it takes to get there.

Wires and Lights

Inside the BH, I've installed on-off switch to turn on the light on each floor and to make sure I don't leave light switched on accidentally on each floor, I've also installed a center switch in my control room. Other items in my control room are, plug sockets with timers to turn on the lights on all side walls, the corridor and the roof entry; a light and a ventilation fan. I've also installed a plug socket to turn on light on the roof top as and when needed. It is nice to have a light on the roof in case bats and other wild animals happen to wonder around there. In addition to that, CCTV cameras fixed in the open roof to check for all eventualities; on the top floor entry and inter-floor entry holes to monitor birds inside the BH and on the corridor to check on unwanted activities outside the BH.