Postponement of February Swiftlet Farming Seminar To March 2015 !!!

The Swiftlet farming seminar scheduled for February 2015 is postponed to March 7th 2015.

This is due to the clash with Chinese New Year.

To all those who have registered please reschedule your trip.

For further information please call this number 017 7551318.

Sorry for any conveniences.

Kodiang BH: Be Careful When Your BH is About To Touch 3 Years Old.

(2 years with 200 nests is considered good)

During my short visit to Kodiang, Kedah I emphasized to this BH owner about a few important things that he must be aware of.

As I have mentioned earlier his BH just crossed the 2 years old time line and soon will be 3 years old.

I warned him about these important points that he must look out for:

1) His BH will soon be very dry.   During its initial stages the wetness inside his BH is highly contributed by those water added to the cement mixture used on the walls (plaster) and those floors.  Once the BH reaches about three years (plus minus) the water will be dried out.  When this happen he will need to quickly add some gadgets to make his BH wet.

2) If he currently used those humidifiers, most of them will start to give problems.  It will be worst if he uses those electronic humidifiers.  They will last the most about one year.  Those eyes that activate the transformation of water from liquid to gas will usually get covered up with scales and the only best way out is to replace these eyes.

3) Those chicken coop humidifiers will last about three years plus minus.  If you are lucky they will extent to about 4 years.  These chicken coop do have what they called shelf life.  Main problem will be the motor and those bearings.  Once reached their shelf life they will be dead or make a lot of disturbing sounds inside your BH.  Your birds will be scared and soon find a new home somewhere near. He might want to quickly replace all of them.

4) Within three years if you do not take care of your BH properly you will find a lot of cockroaches all over the floor and the nesting planks.  These cockroaches feed on your raw nests.  If you find your nest missing or full of holes on its body you know that these are due to these cockroaches.  You need to prepare your self with some took to fight these horrible creatures. He should apply those cockroach poison on the floor or perhaps apply two lines of poison chalk marking on all his walls about waist height.

I have solved this syndrome before and I think what I said above are useful for all BH owners.

You need to get yourself equip with proper knowledge about what will happen ahead and be prepared with the necessary precautions.

You need to list all the possible problems that will arise and at the same time a list of things that you might need to do to avoid your BH having this so called nests stagnant sickness.

If you are want more information try to call me at 017 7551318.

Kodiang BH: Two Years With 200 Nests So Far !!!

The owner of this BH located somewhere in Kodiang, Kedah complained that his BH nests growth are not so good.

I was invited to visit the BH last week and have a long talk with him and wife about his BH.

After about 45 minutes viewing externally and internally I told him that his BH is doing very well as compared to many others.

"Pak Harry don't you think that the growth is slow? Only 200 after two years is bad, isn't it?" he asked.

My rule of the thumb for a new BH is to get 100 nests during its first year of operation and subsequently the nests should multiply by 2 every year.

In his case after 2 years it went up to 200.

I told him that he is a very lucky person and try not to raise his expectation too high.

There are many BH owners who are not even with 10-20 nests after 4 years of operation.

What excite me most was how his BH can do so well and based on his description most of his nests were at the ground floor.

Something must be right about this BH.

What I discovered were very interesting and how I wish more BHs have some features like his.

One main reason why his BH was doing pretty well is the installation of external sound tweeters in his nesting rooms.

Each floor has about 6 sets of external sound tweeters.

Each set consisted of two pieces of 2"X 5" tweeters.

They were placed in the middle of each beam box.

These external sound sets must be drawing those birds into the house and move them to the back.

However I do have some concerns about the following things:

1) All his ventilation holes were not with any extension pipe.  Internally they ended with a 90* elbow each.  The amount of light from these elbows were causing bright areas.

2) There was not a single room on any of the three floors.  I told him to consider erected at least a room per floor.

3) Nearly all his 200 plus nests were 90* shape.  Very few were making those 180* shape.

4) The main entrance hole was with no owl prevention system.  I recommended those electric wire system.

5) There were many saliva markings at those 90* corners. I told him that he should have install those polystyrene foam fake nests on each of these corners.  I was referring to my NKS system.

6)  There is a very strong indication that his BH was too dry.  He do not operate any humidifier at the moment.  I pointed to him about 3 years BH syndrome. If he is not careful those young birds generated inside his BH will not return home due to dryness.  He should get ready to face the dry BH syndrome.

7) His BH hexagonal tweeters was DIY with two 2" x 5" tweeters facing the front and another two facing the back.  What about the two sides?

(DIY hexagonal tweeter with only 2 facing the front and two facing the back)

8) The highest floor seems to be very bright.  Coupled with those bright light from the main entrance holes all his ventilation holes were with no extension pipes.  There is a need for a room on this floor.

9)  One very strange observation was the little number of nests found on the middle floor.  There were less than 20 pieces and I think he should list down all the things which can be done to lure more birds to this particular floor.  One idea was to create a VIP room at the end of the nesting room.  My second idea was to perhaps rewire the internal sound tweeters and perhaps later run them at a louder volume.

Well I sincerely hope that he will follow some of my comments and recommendations.

However at the moment his consultant is doing a pretty good job with some new sounds changed recently.

The Netting Proof To Be Effective To Catch Those Predators !!!

(Barn Owl are protected species but a big no no to your BH)

When any BH owner asked for my advice on how minimize those owls or birds of prays attacked I usually will list them all the available methods of getting rid of these predators.

My favorite is the shock wires.

All you need to do is to installed those shock lines on all those areas where these predators will perch.

Connect the positive and negative wire ends to an electric inverter or transformer.

Once those predators perch or touches the two wires they will get a shock of their life.

This method is less harmful to those predators.  They will usually stay away from your BH.

There are other additional methods that you can deploy.

One common method is to set some kind of netting around your BH.

You can fix a set of poles to hang those netting.

The net can help you to trap these predators but try not to be too high.

Have a good look at this picture taken a few days back:

(This looks like another sparrow hawk to me)

(Another Owl netted recently in Pahang)

Bamboo Trees And Jitra BH !!!

One very important thing that the Jitra BH owner should do is to remove those tall bamboo trees.

The tall trees are too tall and blocking the flying path of those swiftlet from flying from the retention pond.

Do away with the trees and I am sure he will get more birds to his BH.

This was discussed with the BH owner during my visit to his BH recently.

The BH and the pond seems to blocked almost 50 percent by the bamboo trees.

My visit report will concentrate mainly on how to lure all those birds visiting the retention pond area in the evening.

If he can get all of these birds to enter or visit his BH there is a very goon chance of increasing his nest population.

The interior renovation expecially its darkness need to be arrested.

The BH needs some partitioning on the top most floor and perhaps the lower floor too.

The upper floor partition is to close the LAL hole thus allowing minimum amount of light into both floors.

The walls around the staircase need some new black paint.

All his nesting planks needs some cleaning and perhaps applied with a layer of nesting planks aroma.

Once done he should looked into the orientation of his internal sound tweeters to face the flying in path direction.

I also indicated to him about the need on external sound tweeters inside his nesting rooms.

His BH external sound tweeters ended around the LAL and not further than that.

There were many fresh saliva marking made by those birds but nothing was done to secure them.

One very easy method to trap these birds will be to clean the BH floor and allow the BH to run for a few weeks.

During his next visit after the cleaning he can easily trace those active spots.

Once he observed those fresh shits on the floor he can select which saliva markings needs some help.

My advice to him was to quickly install those fake nests below every active saliva marking.

"We need to help those young couples so that they can quickly finish up their nests and lay the first egg.  Once they laid their first egg in your BH they will live there until they die."

It is sad that most BH owner do little or nothing to help these young couples.

Yes we as the BH owner must assist them so that they can erect their first nest.

The more we help them the more there will be new tenants.

I told him about VIP room on both floors.

The VIP room is something that can make every floor a nice place to stay.

These birds will feel very safe and the chances to be invaded by those predators are lesser.

The room should be located at the end of the nesting room and must be about 4 meters by 4 meters in size.

Open a door to allow these wild birds to enter the room.

Make sure you install a set of external sound tweeters on the door frame about 5-6 feet above the floor.

Once the room is erected you need to re-orientate all those internal sound tweeters to face the door.

A set of external sound tweeters will help to pull those birds to the back of the room.

Well let see how these new ideas will activate this BH and I am looking forward to make sure the BH will be back on track.

A Two Stories BH At Jitra, Kedah !!!

Managed to squeezed some time to drive up to Jitra Kedah last weekend to view this two stories BH.

The owner attended my talk in Penang recently and wanted my professional advice about his four years old BH.

He said that after four long years he only secured about 100 plus nests.

He do not understand the reasons why those birds are not coming in and populating his BH.

One very interesting new development just about 100 feet away was this retention pond where everyday there will be lots of swiftlet gathering above it especially in the evening.

I took some time to find him and lastly called him to pick me up after running around in circle.

My first impression about his BH was a bit too small, 20'X40'.

Its entrance point was at the wrong end.

He opted for a monkey house but when those birds entered they need to make a 180* turn to enter their nesting room.

Both floors were a bit too bright and there was very little attraction to those birds.

No special room was made available.

He recently changed both sounds and more birds were responding.

The two sounds were purchased from me during the Penang talk.

I set down with him on what to do and promised to submit a full visit report for him to review and perhaps follow.

He seems to have this new drive to start the BH back.

He admitted that he left the BH after facing a number of problems.

Main problem was that the nest number seems not to move.

After attending the Penang talk his interest came back.

He was very glad to see me at his BH.

Some pictures taken for you all to see.

Pachitan BH: Some Good Progress !!!

From the many BHs that I have served this BH at Kampung Pachitan is the most challenging and difficult.

The BH was erected with so many flaws and if any one should not be tackled those birds will not ventured in.

The BH is the smallest in term of its size.  Only about 20 feet by 20 feet and two stories high.

The walls were all using a single layer bricks and you can imagine how it will be if they are not shielded.

The BH entrance hole was not helping with its wrong location and I have to make do with what was given to me.

This BH was beside those high voltage cable lines.

When I finished inspection I shook my head many many times and I told the owner that his BH was the worst BH even discovered.

He keep begging me for some help.

I finally carried out my revamp operation.

Until today he could not pay my fee even I agreed that he pay on a monthly basis.

Yesterday Jan 16th 2015 I went to see why his external sound was off.

The owner keep calling for help so I stop by just to know why.

When arrived at the BH I car got stuck in the mud.

I left my car and rode on his motorcycle to see his BH.

He opened the data room door and there was nothing wrong with both the amplifier.

I switched off the external sound amplifier and pull the thumb drive.

After a bit of cleaning I inserted the thumb drive back and switched on.

The sound came back and I quickly told the owner that he should have done it by himself.

The internal sound amplifier was doing fined.

We went inside to inspect and found there were a some interesting signs only on the top floor.

There were about 9-10 bird shit spots.

I told him that there is a very strong chance that he will have some nest soon.

He need to make sure that the sound must not stop and he must also install those fake nests.

In the meantime I sprayed some pheromone liquid.

Happy that this BH which I give very little hope have some interesting signs.

Maybe those high voltage lines are not that bad to the BH.

Enjoy these pictures taken:

Red Colored Nests Found Inside A BH !!!

Just wanted to share this email message from a BH owner.

I think this guy must be from Thailand or Vietnam.

Read his message:

Dear my Swiflet Professor

I worried about the color of birdnest. could you tel me why they have these color.

White, yellow, red  & mix color little bit yellow or red 

thank you so much for your explain.

Dung Panrang.

Have a good look at the three pictures and if I were him I will be concerned too.

However if you look at the bight side he should be a happy person.

Main reason being red nests are 3-4 times more expansive than white colored nests.

They are difficult to find especially inside BHs.

The main cause of this red coloring is said to be due to a bacteria that consume those ammonia gas generated by your BH rotting bird shit.

These bacteria will consume the ammonia gas and excrete their waste that turn into red.

If you want to create this red colored nest you can try this method:

First you don't remove your bird shit ever.  Make them as thick and moist.

Shut maybe 90% of all your ventilation holes.

Then you introduce these bacteria inside your BH.  You can do this by buying those raw red nest, just one piece, grind it into powder and start to put a pinch inside every nests in your BH.

Make sure the humidity inside is high like 90%RH.

Within a few short weeks you will find that your white nests will start to turn yellow and soon red.

The thicker the ammonia gas inside your BH the darker the color of your nests (red).

However you need to be careful.

If you allow these red nests to stay too long inside your thick ammonia environment it might turn into black.  Like charcoal black.

So make sure you know when to harvest them.

Remember all colored nests are high in nitrite.

I think if you do this it will be very difficult to export to China.

You might be able to sell to Taiwan or Hongkong but not into China.

China specification is up to 30 part per million but red colored nest will contain around 500-700 ppm.

The above are just my own opinion and experience.

I have touch this matter years ago and you can still read it at this article:

http://swiftletfarming.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-knowledgable-some-people-can-be.html

Enjoy reading and I will be happy to receive any comment or opinion.

Remember my opinions are not always right.

Let Us Discuss About This Picture !!!

I have this picture taken in a BH located somewhere in Muar, Johor.

If you are new in swiftlet farming you will not be able to see at least three mistakes that most BH owners does.

All in all they do not take any trouble to understand or learn about their tenants.

If you ask them why they allow these mistakes to occur, they will surely blame their "Consultants".

Their answer is very simple.

I don't know anything about swiftlet farming so I engage these "Consultants" and they should avoid these errors.

There again they will never take the blame on themselves but blame others.

Let me tell you what are those three errors seen inside the photo:

Number one is the way how the internal sound tweeter was installed.

You know very well that those birds love to hang on the tweeter why must it be installed as such that you make their life difficult?

Allow those birds to latch onto those internals sound tweeters.

You have to learn the precise ways to install your internal sound tweeters.

Number two are those corner covers.

Beside tweeters swiftlet love to start their new nests at corners.  Why must you cover them?

Let them have the luxury of building their nests at 90* corners.

If they like something give it to them.

Try not to hinder them from quickly becoming your BH permanent tenant.

Remember my basic rule.

You need to entice them to quickly build a nest and lay one egg.

Once they have laid one egg this couple will be yours until they die.

If they love those 90* corners give it to them.

If they wanted a TV screen to see Ronaldo to kick around those balls give them the big screen.

If they wanted those China dolls, give it to them.

As long as they can quickly build a nest and lay the first egg just give anything they they love to have.

Don't try to deter them or make their life difficult.

I also noticed that the nesting planks boxes are too wide.

Nesting plank boxes should be about 1.5 feet by 3 feet in size.

When you insert a cross wood for these smaller boxes you actually increase more nesting space and also increase the number of 90* corners.

My last point is the nesting planks color.

When they are whitish you know that they are not red meranti wood.

Red meranti is not white.

Soft wood, usually whitish, are easily to breed fungus.

If by any chance that your BH is too wet, like you set the timer wrongly, fungus will start to colonize those white areas.

Soon they will spread to the rest of the wood surface.

Be careful when you choose your nesting planks.

They can be very nasty when those fungus colonized them.

Bukit Kepong BH : How To Prevent Those Owls From Entering Your BH !!!

This idea was used at Bukit Kepong, Muar, Johor.

I was told by this BH owner that his BH was recently attacked by owls.

The damage done was very serious and he quickly got his boys to do something about it.

What he informed me that he prefer the installation on this wires at all his entrance holes (3 all together).

According to him this method proof to be the most effective.

More effective than those electrical shock wires.

The wires used were those embedded in a layer of plastic.

The wires must be upright and not on the sleeping mode.

They must be about 8.5" apart since those swiftlet are about 10" tip to tip.

I watched the swiftlet flying in and out and it was true that they do not have any difficulties to fly in and out.

A very interesting method and I think you should try to follow this idea if you have owls problems.

Beside the wires he also put up a few netting around the BH.

It was something like those volleyball netting.

Love to share some of this useful method to prevent BHs from being attack by predators.

Segamat BH Progressing Well !!!

The Segamat BH seems to be moving well and the best signs was that the fake nests are beginning to show lots of occupants.

I remembered finishing all revamp works in September 2014 and today the number of nests are getting better and more fake nests are taken up.

I was also pleased with the external sounds played (two sounds).

Those wild birds were still responding to the sound and I advise the owner to keep using the two sounds for a few more months.

Recently the owner claimed that he harvested about 1 kilogram of nests and left some of those with babies and eggs.

I am pretty sure the house will perform better as compared to prior to my intervention.

During my revamp works I focus my attention to the sound system plus the installation of more internal sound tweeters plus plenty of fake nests.

My prediction was that once any new couples entered they will surely race for those fake nests.

These fake nests helps these young couples to quick start their nests building.

Once they lay their first egg the couple will belong to this BH until they die.

As at yesterday, after just 3.5 months, this prediction was beginning to show signs.

"Pak Harry, I can see more new nests on those fake nests you installed." he said.

I told the owner to allow these young couples to use the fake nests only for two cycles.

Once they have completed the two cycles I wanted the nests to be remove together with the fake nests.

What I wanted these birds to do now is to start building their nest on the nesting planks and no longer on those fake nests.

Remember they are already yours once they have laid the first egg.

Now will be the time to push or force them to give you the nest quality of your choice.

I would advise that those 90* corners be covered with perhaps stainless steel plate.

Have a look at these drawings that I have drawn.

Follow my little advice and I am very sure that you will begin to see better quality nests once the fake nests are removed.

Kulim BH: A New Year Surprise Visitors !!!

Last night received this pictures from a BH owner from Kulim Kedah.

He claimed that there has been some new group of swiftlet entering his BH however he also received these unwanted visitors.

His uncle shot three so far in 2015 and I think they will be more to come.

If you look at the picture carefully you know that they are now owl but more like a a hawk.

Google search give you something they called sparrowhawk.

They capture their pray in the air and in this case during the returning home time.

They will come before dusk and wait for swiftlet returning home.  Once they ready they will swoop catching your swiftlet.

The BH owner was very lucky since his uncle is a sharp shooter.

Every evening when they see these hawks they will get the sharp shooter to eliminate these birds of pray.

I remember a few months ago while revamping the same BH the sharp shooter shot at least 2 out of the durian tree branches.

Hope there will be lesser and will not frighten away those swiftlet.

One method that you might want to install around your BH if there are many birds of prey will be these netting.

I took this picture when I was at Bkt Kepong BH.

The owner claimed that they have so far captured 5 owls using the suspended netting.

Hawk leftover will look something like this on the floor:

Bukit Kepong BH Visit !!!

(About 2.5 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur)

A very interesting story about this four stories BH located somewhere at Sawah Laku, Bt Kepong, Muar, Johor.

The 2 years old BH is on the top of a small hill and when you are up on the rooftop area you can see the most beautiful view ever.

With lots of virgin jungle surrounded by palm oil trees it took my breath away.

The owner wanted my opinion on the location.

"What do you think about this location Pak Harry." he asked.

With the big greenaries and lots of birds flying on the rooftop I have to admit to him about my sincere opinion.

"Dr, my sincere opinion is that if your BH is properly designed and with all the necessary internal features you should be able to get 300 - 500 nests within a year.  This looks like an ideal spot plus the fact that there are no competitors around you." I replied.

He was very pleased to hear from my mouth.

I think he wanted a professional guy with lots of experience to provide him with the confident.

His BH was put into operation about 2 years ago.

The number of nests so far was below 50 pieces.

A few months back it was attacked by owls.

He must have read about my article on how to use those cables to reduce the entrance size of big birds from entering the main entrance holes.

His worker installed about three - four wires from top to bottom about 8" apart.

This seems to work and those owls stop entering his BH.

After my inspection works I prepare a list of things which I told him will help to quickly populate his BH.

1) The monkey house areas needs a bit more external sound tweeters.  I sketched how those tweeters should be arranged at all the three entrance holes.

2) I suggested on the installation of a proper hexagonal tweeters and how and where to precisely installed them.  Currently his workers installed a DIY unit and at the back part of the monkey house.  I told him to replace with a properly design hexagonal tweeter that can cover a 360* orientation.

(A DIY hexagonal tweeter)

(A much better hexagonal tweeter)

3) The top most floor was a bit too bright.  This was mainly due to two openings (entrance holes).  Due to the bright light many of those bird shit markings on the floor are not producing nests or event saliva markings.  My explanation to the BH owner was these uncomfortable feeling of these couples when the place they stayed at night are too bright during the day time.  I suggested the idea of splitting the BH into two portions.  One the top most floor using the back entrance holem while the lower floors to concentrate on the main entrance tunnel system.

4) All the floors were without any room.  Wide open except for a short partition blocking the light at the main entrance hole.  I sketched a few drawings with appropriate partitions to lure those swiftlet to hide inside the VIP rooms.

5) I could not keep my feeling about how those internal sound tweeters were installed.  They are simply not swiftlet friendly.  I told the owner that every internal sound tweeter is like a bed to these young couples and we must not make life difficult for them to cling on it.  My recommendation on these matter was to relocate them and be more friendly.

6) The external sound tweeters were only at the monkey house areas and the LAL but not at the back of the nesting rooms.  A common mistakes and I advice how and where they should be extended.

7) This BH was installed with this big mist maker imported direct from China.  However due to some suspicion on the part of the owner both were switched off.  The owner came to know that those ultrasonic sound produced by the humidifier mist making plates will shoo his birds away.  I told him not to my knowledge.  He should reactivate them but use a humidistat instead of a timer.

8) I introduced to the owner about those polystyrene fake nests.  Drew the shapes and told his maintenance guy how to installed them.  The best is to be as closed as possible to the internal sound tweeters and those 90* corners.  Removed those corner woods that faces the flying in path.  Once remove install the 90* shape polystyrene fake nests.

9) My next proposition was to use those super pheromone on every fake nests installed.  This special smell pheromone will easily encore those young couples.

10) The most exciting event during my visit was when I tested my external sounds.  The best performed was the Pukau 2 Rev and Super Vacuum.  The owner quickly ask me for a copy.  He promised not to use the two sounds until the revamp works are done.

11) I insisted that the internal sound be changed to SuperBabyKing.  He agreed and it was change on the spot.

I hope to be regularly invited by the BH owner to drop by and see how the repair are done and maintained.

What I know was that the owner was very grateful with my visit and he agreed to follow my recommendation 100%.

I am sure my small contribution is good for his BH.

My wish is that once the BH is revamped and a new set of sounds is played the number of nests will multiplied in the shortest possible time.

Best of luck to him.

Carey Island BH Nests Distribution !!!

(A BH at Bumbung Lima)

How come there are more nests on the top floor as compared to the lower floor?

This question was posted to me by this BH owner who own a unit at Carey Island.

During my initial meeting with him I described to him a list of characteristics of a well designed and a good BH.

"Dato a good BH is when the lowest floor is with the most number of nests as compared to the top floors.  For example if you have 200 nests in total inside your BH 100 plus should be on the lowest floor and the balance will be distributed on the upper floors." I told him.

If your nests distribution is on the reversed, i.e the top floor have the most while the second got some and the ground floor is the least, you are in a big problem.

Yes there is something not right about your BH.

It could be due to the internal design and perhaps your BH entrance hole direction is wrong.

Remember if your internal design is screwed up example your "Lubang Antara Lantai" is in a zig-zag orientation or you open the LAL at the far end of your floors those birds will not be able to find their way down.

The best design is to have a 45* slanting path where the LAL is properly located which allows the birds to fly down without taking any stoppages along the way.

The next will be the orientation of the entrance hole.

I have seen many BHs where their entrance hole faces the West.

Due to the morning light they prefer to stay around the main entrance hole or only on the top most floor.

Another very obvious reason why those birds are now occupying the lower floors have something to do with the external sound tweeters placement.

The Carey Island BH have this poorly placed external sound tweeters.

To be frank there was only one external sound tweeter inside the BH that was also one tweeter at the LAL beam.

All external sound tweeters were only found at the main entrance areas.

No external sound tweeters were installed inside the nesting rooms and the doors into the nesting rooms.

A very common mistakes which most so called consultants will make.

"Dato, if you want more birds to be on the lower floor try this idea.  You install those external sound tweeters as per my recommendations and link them to the data room using at least two cables.  One linking to all those tweeters on the upper floor and the second to the lower floor.  Try to adjust the external sound played on the lower floor much louder on the lower floor and see what happen within 3 months.  Make sure you count how many nest there were on each floor before and after."

He agreed with me and I hope he will take my challenge so that he can prove that I am wrong.

I don't think he can wind this challenge.

Trust me ......

Useful Tips About Your Tenants !!!

I am talking about your BH tenants.

What I wanted to write in this particular posting is about the relationship between the amount of bird shits on the floor and what you should expect on the nesting plank just above it.

One of the most exciting thing to observe inside a very new house is the number of bird shit spots on the floor of the house.

The more they are the more the chances that there will be more nests pretty soon.

As a rule of the thumb each bird will shit twice a night.  I am not sure the precise time but we can expect two spot from each of them every night.

If a new couple entered your BH you will see four bird shits at the same spot.

So after one week there will be 7 X 2 X 2 =24 bird shits at the same spot.

Usually these young couples once they entered and stayed together they can be classified as a couple who will soon erect their nest before starting their copulation or love making.

Those that are young and not matured will stay single until they reach about 5-6 months old.

Okay now let us ask ourselves how many weeks will the matured couples start building their nests?

Three or four or five weeks you should be able to see their saliva markings on the nesting planks just above their shit spots.

Once they begin applying their saliva on the planks you know that they are about or have started building their nests.

From the moment they begun until the nest is ready how long do will they needed?

Another interesting question which we as a BH owner should or must know.

The answer lies on how fast the couple wanted to start their copulation activities.

At the same time how the female feels about the location chosen by the male bird.  If she feels unsecured or safe enough she might force the male to move to another safer location.

So there goes the hard work by the male being ignored by the female.

The female dominated the male when it come to making love in swiftlet kingdom.

(Well in human kingdom it is the same).

With the above introduction we should be able to judge a kind of relationship between the bird shit concentration to the size of the nest above it.

The thicker the bird shit spot the larger the nests just above it.

However what if the relationship failed?

A good example your BH have a lot of bird shit spots on your floor but there were little nests or only some markings above it.

This is where you need to bring your expertise to size the situation.

There must be some strong reasons why those birds are not proceeding in completing their nests.

You as a BH owner need to quickly figure out what can be the reasons.

I can list a few but it varies from BH to BH.

1) The most common is the internal sound is not good enough.  Internal sound is important in making those couples to feel secured and safe.  The sound one more important function which is to accelerate the young couple to have the urge to copulate.  Something like Viagra or Tongkat Ali sex inducer.

2) The second possible reason is that your caretaker have played a good external sound as your internal sound.  A very good example is to use Black Cloud as your internal sound.  Once this sound is played those birds will start to become frenzy for the whole night and they will not take position.

3) The third thing that can be a strong reason is the brightness.  If these bird shit markings are very closed to the main entrance areas the couple will take a very long time to finish their job.  The builder will become hesitant to continue or not to continue.  Usually they will move inside but sometime they are stubborn.

4) The fourth possibility is the lack of experience of the young couple to produce saliva.  Sometime they are not able to activate their saliva glands to produce the raw materials for their BH.

You should study the above points and make sure your BH is under your care and all the necessary precautions are taken.

For point 1) and 2) you should learn on how to recornize the different between internal and external sound.  If you are not sure call me at 017 7551318.

For point 3) I guess you need to erect some walls to minimize the light pollution.  If you are not sure please call me to check about it.

The simplest will be the number 4).  All you need to do is to install a fake nest just below the saliva markings made by the couple.  Once this is done you will soon see that a nest is ready or about to be ready during your next visit (3-4 weeks later).

Call me at 017 7551318 if you are not sure about the relationship (more shit = more nest volume)