Progress photo of the interior

So far I have been posting photographs of the progress from the outside. Today I will be posting a few progress photographs from the inside showing the progress of the 1st., 2nd. and 3rd. Floor.

This is the view of the 1st. Floor. My workers finishing up the floor
while another group measuring up to fabricate the steel staircase.

View of the 2nd. and 3rd. Floor. All the cement boards in place
and internal plastering completed. Observe the arrangement of
the nesting planks. There are in 2' x 2' grid. So. there are alot of
corners and I am not worried because young birds prefer the
corners and I am looking forwrd to quantity dan quality for a start.
However, I have also ordered curvered corner pieces, 200 pieces,
which I will cut into 2 and placed at strategic areas to strengthen
the timber floor strucuture besides minimising on corner nests.

Look at the sky above. The space above will be covered-up and
served as the roving area. There will be a roof above. The LAL
are all directly below the roving area (16' x 16') and I believed
this will create a great internal playground for the swiftlets.

"War can only be understood and put an end to if you and all those who are concerned very deeply with the survival of man, feel that you are utterly responsible for killing others. What will make you change?" - J. Krishnamurti...

10 reasons why you should get involved in the Swiftlet Industry

My fellow blogger and countryman Jahaniwalit wrote in his blog in Bahasa Malaysia on the above and I would like to translate into English for the benefit of my readers.

First : The swiftlet industry have successfully produced many silent millionaires. The secret of the dark house have been unveiled. The dark house is no more a secret because many had known about it. The enthusiasm to invest in this industry has become a new phenomena in Malaysia. Many investors dared to invest by the millions. In fact many dared to take the risk knowing that they do not have the authority's approval..

Second : The swiftlet industry can be inherited by the future generations. The children who will inherite this business do not need skill to continue and manage this business. It is very different from other businesses. For example, if you open a computer business, your children need to acquire computer knowledge to manage like you.

Third : The swiftlet industry is not related to the pharmaceutical industry which depends on the patients for demand. It is a kind of food the has been proven to be good for health since the Tang Dynasty era in China. It has become the health food of the elite and it is very much trusted by the Chinese community. China's economy is expected to expand faster than the American economy. Because of this, there will always be demand for bird nests and will increase with more consumers having the economic edge. (rich man diet). Whereever there is a Chinese community, there exist a market demand for bird nests. With that, the market for bird nests is guaranteed, for now and in future.

Fourth : Swiftlet business is unique because it does not need a working capital or operation cost to run it. If there is any, it is only the cost of electricity and water which is very minimal. It need not close supervision unlike other businesses.

Fifth : Swiftlet business do not need high skill to manage. When the swiftlets start making nests, the owner only need to harvest and sell them. Even when they are not processed the price is still high.

Sixth : Swiftlet business from the investment aspect pelaburan, the capital requirement is relative to the size of the building and there is no standard size. Investment size is dependant on your capability and ability. If the building is an existing building like a shophouse, the owner only need to renovate. So, the fixed capital is only once but the profit obtained is continuous as long as the building continue to exist.

Seventh : Swiftlet business can be carried out anywhere. Study carried out by Wild Life showed almost all the places in Malaysia are suitable to build bird houses.

Eighth: Swiftlet business can be carried out individually or shared. Oleh can be carried out by coperatives or institutions which are successful. If shared with friends, it is not to have misunderstanding and dissatisfaction because the door can have separate padlocks and keys. All partners must come at the same time to open their individual padlock before they can enter to harvest the nests.

Nineth: Swiftlet business can be carried out part-time, because you need not have to give full attention to it. If you are a civil servant, you can own a bird house because it does not disturb your work as a civil servant. Its also the same if you are a restaurant owner, a goldsmith or involved in any other business. Even if you are a politician, it will not disturb your activities. You can still continue with your routine without being interrupted by your swiftlet business.

Tenth: Swiftlet business can create other downstream industries. Swiftlet industry is not just about selling raw nests. Raw nests can be processed to add value. The price of processed and cleaned nests is almost one fold that of raw nests. Other downstream industries can be created like bottling of drinks, processed as nutritious food and others alike.

If my readers have decided to get involved in the swiftlet industry after reading the above, I am willing to help. Readers can call, email or skype me.

External wall almost closed up

My workers are in their last lap of finishing up the external walls. They are in the midst of closing up the middle front external wall.


My workers have also half way into finishing the brickwork of the Utility Room on the Ground Floor. At each corner of the Utility Room is a boxed-up duct (2' 0" x 2' 0") which runs from the Ground Floor to the underside of the 1st. Floor. It is a multi-purpose duct which serves the following purposes:-

1. Acts as a refuse chute. Birdshit are dumped into this duct and dropped to the ground

2. Acts as a service duct. Water pipes and electrical conduits from the Ground Floor run inside the duct to the 1st. Floor and above.

3. Acts as a ventilation duct. Air from the ground rises and flow into the duct and into the air well above the 1st. Floor regulating the temperature and humidity in the interior of the BH. Air movement is restricted to the air well area only and does not affect the nesting places.

4. May act as a feeding tube. This is just an idea. I may breed insects as food for the swiftlets on the ground and channel them through this duct into the interior of the BH.

How to rear young swiftlet from eggs?

A friend informed me that one of the birdhouse owners in town he knew is throwing away the eggs when harvesting, perhaps his birdhouse is already full to the brim, and asked me how he could salvage the eggs and incubate them and when hatched, rear the swiftlets until they can fly and release them in his birdhouse. I have searched the internet and this is the informations I would like to share with my readers.

The A.F eggs take about 30-40 days to hatch and another 30-45 days before they leave their nests. Incubation in the incubator with a temperature set at 40C at a 70% humidity. After the A.F eggs hatched the chicks are left in the incubator for 2-3 days before they are transferred.

Step 1. Those young chicks should be protected from cold and wind. It means put them in a box so that no moving current to reduce the temperature. Light up a low wattage bulb (5 w) with a variable resistance control to regulate the temperature. Temperature should be controlled at around 30˚C .

Step 2 Make a nest for 1 to 3 chicks. Use small plastic containers lay them with tissue paper, with crumpled one at the bottom and flat double layer at the the top. On top of the paper put a small piece of plastic mosquito netting. ( for the claws to hold to enable comfortable feeding)

Step 3 Feeding need too be done at least 4 times a day.

Step 4 Preparation of food : Steam the insects first unless you can ensure they are free from bacteria. Cut the insects into fine pieces using a small scissor. Mix the various insect pieces well and use hard boiled egg yolk as a binder.

Step 5 Food can be used should be suitable and easily available. Recommended food : cricket, breadworms , bloodworm, dry earthworm and egg yolk. . Breadworms can be used as main ingredient.

Step 6 Feeding spoon can be modified from a small rubber tubing, slice one end at an angle and taper off the sharp point.

Step 7 During feeding it should be done within the box, even to transfer chicks from box to another box close them up to protect them from air movement.

Step 8 All food after sterilization should be handled by clean equipment.

Step 9 Newly hatched can take 1 or 2 spoon feed. Later 3 to 5 spoons are required. The above information is from the internet and from Harry's Blog and whether it works or not I don't know as I have not tried. There is no harm trying as if it is successful we are doing something good. Let us be a good samaritan by helping to save the swiftlets.

Cement board already laid to 2nd and 3rd Floor

My workers had finished fixing the cement boards to the 2nd. and 3rd. Floor. They will continue fixing the 1st. Floor today. They also had finished the internal plastering of the 1st. and 2nd. Floor and had moved down to the Ground Floor to lay bricks for the Utility Room which is located below the central air well. I have also ordered the staircase from my steel fabricator. The staircase will be made of steel and clear width is 2' 0". The staircase for the Ground Floor is straight flight while the 1st., 2nd. and 3rd floor is dog leg complete with hand rail. Hopefully this staircase can be fixed earlier so as to give safe access to the higher floors.

The cement board already in place on the 2nd. and 3rd. Floor and the Roof

" I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship." - Pietro Aretino

Birdhouses come in different shapes and sizes.

People have the notion that birdhouses should look like shophouses, rectangular in shape and have to be between 20' and 30' wide and 60' to 80' long and 2 or 3 storey high if they are standalone farm and wall should be 9" thick solid or cavity wall and to some RC wall on the ground floor and must have pvc ventilation holes all round. However, there others who beg to differ and had build to their own whims and fancies and I would like to share some of the designs below with my readers.

A birdhouse in Kuala Dungun. totally clad in metaldeck. Notice the
double size entrance hole. It seems to be very successful as swiftlets
are seen going in and coming out during noon time.

A birdhouse near Kg. Undang, totally constructed of timber and
sitting on stilt. Notice the sun screen to reduce heat transfer.

A birdhouse in Merang built completely of timber. Notice the

entrance hole and modification that is going to be made.

A birdhouse in Kg. Tirok just completed but yet to switch on the

bird sound. Notice the entrance hole. Only caters for diving swiftlets.

Another birdhouse in Kg. Tirok which is 4 storey high No ventilation

holes on the external walls and window type entrance hole at the centre of the
4th. floor. Just wonder how the owwner ventilate this birdhouse. This owner had
a few birdhouses which have been successful and adopt the same concept.

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind." - William James

Wedding of a Princess

The princess is Raja Shahirah Aishah , daughter of my personal friend, Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah. I was a guest at the wedding which was held at Aryani Resort in Merang, Setiu, Terengganu on 7th. March 2009. The bridegroom is Syarul Reza, a vocalist of a famous band, Love Me Butch. Raja Shahirah herself is a keyboardist and vocalist of a local band, Lab Rat which had been declared as the winner of the Global Battle of the Bands (GBOB) Challenge Malaysia 2008. As most Malaysians would have known, Raja Shahirah and his brother Iddin were involved in one the greatest custody battle in the history of Malaysia and Australia. All has ended well and her mum, Jacqueline Pascarl-Gillespie had given her blessings to the wedding. As reported by Sinar Harian on 8th March 2009, the couples will have a wedding reception in Melbourne probably on 24th March 2009 for the mother's side. The wedding ceremony was held in a truely kampung atmosphere and following the palace tradition which is seldom practicised by the royalty nowadays.

The Bridegroom

The Bride

The Bersanding

“I don't suppose any man has ever understood any woman since the beginning of things”-. H.G. Wells (1866-1946)

Cement board already in place at the roof top.

Today is a weekend in Kuala Terengganu. However, my workers still work today and they have managed to complete fixing the cement board to the roof top. This cement board which is 6mm thick will act as ceiling as well as false work for the roof slab. Above the cement board will be a layer of aluminium foil insulation, a layer of BRC A6 and 2 1/2" thick concrete. Besides working on the roof my workers have also be doing internal plastering for the 2nd Floor wall after having finished the 3rd Floor wall. I have asked my workers to add more lime to the plaster as swiftlets prefer lime to rare cement.

Cement board already fixed to timber roof joists seen from below

"Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent." -Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)

Swiftlet Seminar in Kuala Terenggganu

The Terengganu Birdnest Merchant Association is organising a Swiftlet Seminar at Gamelan Hall, Primula Beach Resort , Kuala Terengganu from 8.00am to 2.00pm on 8th March 2009. Registration fee is RM100 f0r members and RM250 for non-members(Including breadfast and lunch). For further information, contact Ms Teo or Liza at 096223521. Certificate will be issued which can be used for applying for license later on.

I have attended this seminar at the Terengganu Equestrian Resort last year and it would be good for swiftlet enthusiasts and beginners to attend as it will provide them with an insight into the Swiftlet Farming Industry which is getting very popular as the most passive income generating business venture.

Internal plastering started

My workers have started plastering the internal wall of the 3rd. Floor and is halfway through. For the external wall, I am leaving the wall bare without any finishes. I intend to plant climbers which will eventually cover up the entire external wall. The climbers will be placed in pots on the 1st. floor gutter which will have about 2 inches of water all the time to 'irrigate' the climbers. So, watch out for this novelty. My workers are supposed to start fixing the cement boards today but was delayed due to some problem with the electric screw driver.

Latest Front View

Latest Side View (partly hidden by trees and creepers)