How can you minimize your investment to own a BH on your piece of land but not sure if those birds will come and stays?
The answer is found in Sabah.
During my recent visit to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, I was given the opportunity to visit an elevated BH, about 20 feet by 40 feet, using cement board and wood.
I was impressed with the owner's innovation but I told them to be careful with the heat, darkness and termites.
It seems that there are at least 50-60 units build using the same techniques in Sandakan, Sabah that proved to be working well. Some produced about 3-5 kg a month.
The cost to have a unit up is only about RM55,000 excluding the cost of the land.
The price looks very affordable and there is no reason why a low income person is not able to have one unit at the back of their house.
Their main disadvantages will be:
*
The heat from the sun.
The owner need to ensure that proper measures are taken to reduce the temperature inside the BH.
My recommendation is to use those insulation materials example bubble sheet to cover the walls and the ceiling areas.
The roof above the ceiling must be slightly higher to allow cool air to push those hot air out.
Try to consider using some kind of sun shade like those orchid farm black mats to prevent direct sunlight hitting the external walls.
A temperature sensor should be installed to monitor the heat inside the house. Their recordings to be closely monitored and corrective actions to be taken.
* The room darkness.
You need to make sure that the nesting rooms are dark enough to attract those swiftlet to stay.
Too bright will make them scared to stay.
Make sure proper walls to prevent those light are properly erected.
Those walls that are affected by those light must be painted black with water soluble odourless paint.
* The attack from termites.
You need to make proper measures to prevent those termites from attacking the wood used in the BH.
The most appropriate is to use suitable poison traps to lure those termite to harvest and bring the bait home to feed their colony especially their Queen.
The cement legs should be covered with zinc skirts to prevent any predators from crawling up into the BH.
The advantages will be as follows:
*Affordable Price Tag.
The cost to own one unit is below RM60,000 excluding the land.
This is an affordable choice which many average salaried person can cough out or take a personal loan.
As such any person staying in a Kampong with extra land at the back of their house can own a BH.
More people will share the gift of god product or business.
*Trial BH.
If you are not sure if there will be adequate birds to populate your high investments, you can use this as a trial BH.
The success of this trial BH will determine your next steps to move forward with your big plan or to stop if the trial unit is not doing well.
*Learning Centre.
To those who are new and have not mastered the swiftlet farming technology, this low cost BH can be your training centre.
You can learn and apply all those techniques that you have acquired from your researches.
* Mobility.
In the event the trial unit does not works well you can dismantle and move the house to another piece of land.
If you plan to move the BH you need to carry out some sort of preparation for mobilization. Try to use those screws that can be easily dismantle without damaging the wood or cement boards.
* Spread your investment.
People says that it is better to dispersed your investment into more than one basket.
A good example: if you have 300K to own a three stories BH, you now can own at least four BHs at different locations that will give you a better chances of success.
If you wanted to know more please let me know. Call 017 7551318
