About swiftlet farming – you should get more birds if you build more BHs!

There is a misconception that the more BHs we build, the lesser birds will stay in our BHs.

I think this thinking is wrong, obsolete and ridiculous, indeed.

This is only a selfish thinking derived from a selfish mind.

Hey, we are living in a free-marketeering world. You do not have the right to stop others from owning something, let alone talking about monopolizing this God sent golden goose.

If a rancher’s BH is conducive for the swiftlets, (and also provided that he is a breeder where he does not kill or throw away the baby swiftlets or eggs), not only he can keep them, but the numbers will increase many fold with the power of a special component which is time.

That’s why there is a saying, time is money!

Let me show you a simple calculation.

This is a simplified estimating calculation of the swiftlets population in Malaysia. Before that, a few assumption will be made, they are:

1) The area of BH is based on a typical 2 storeys town BH, size 22’ x 80’;

2) For a successful BH, each square foot of space can comfortably produce 1 bird nest every 4 months;

3) assumed that 10% of the new birds do not survive (due to predator, accident, and other reasons that may cause fatality)

4) 1 pair of swiftlets lay 2 eggs per season for 3 times in a year;

5) All the failed farms are not successfully revamped;

6) There is always abundant food supply for the new swiftlets.

Calculation of BHs to be built every year to cater for the increasing swiftlet population

The statistic shows that until to-date, there are 60,000 BH farms built in Malaysia and only 30 % (18,000 farms) of them are successful.

Therefore, estimated existing swiftlet population in whole Malaysia now

= 18,000 x 3520 ft² + 42,000 x 50 bird nest

= 65,460,000 pairs

1^st year anticipated population

= 65,460,000 + 65,460,000 x 3 = 261,840,000, discounted 10% = 235,656,000 pairs.

Additional successful BHs to be built = (235,656,000 – 65,460,000) / 3520 = 48,351 units

2^nd year anticipated population

= 235,656,000 + 235,656,000 x 3 = 942,624,000, discounted 10% = 848,361,600 pairs.

Additional successful BHs to be built = (848,361,600 – 65,460,000) / 3520 = 222,415 units

3^rd year anticipated population

= 848,361,600 + 848,361,600 x 3 = 3,393,446,400, discounted 10%= 3,054,101,760 pairs.

Additional successful BHs to be built = (3,054,101,760 – 65,460,000) / 3520 = 849,046 units

Findings

1) The more the merrier. The more BHs you build, the faster the swiftlet population will grow.

2) The vast swiftlet population is far enough & more than all ranchers can share & chew.

3) If BHs are not constructed fast enough to house them (i.e 48,351 units in the 1^st year), the subsequent year’s forecasted population will remain only as “promising figure” that is not going to materialise. This is because at the first place, we do not have sufficient BHs for them to occupy. The new birds may find their homes in the neighbouring countries like Thailand, Indonesia & Vietnam.

The above are just my personal findings. You are most welcome to comment.

It may sound like expecting son even before we are married, but I hope that my argument may hold some true.

Again and most importantly, the above formula works only if all swiftlet ranchers are pure breeders.

To be breeders, their birds will multiply very fast, to be harvesters, only old birds are allowed to live and therefore the swiftlet population will never increase (reference: West Wing, Lowyat V1 posts).

I hope that all ranchers are breeders and for God's sake, change your mindset if you are not.