Purple Martin Forum

This will be my first year for using 7 dust on nests had a terrible mite problem last year, plan on going with advice from Chucks Purple Martin Page he seems to be very smart about martins I even built my T-14 from his plans would highly recommend his page for info! He uses 7 at the first sign of mi...

Last year was the first for my T 14 had six pair, I added a 12 gourd rack this year I have counted 18 martins so far and they are still arriving daily it does seem that they prefer the gourds will know for sure at end of season.

Yesterday was the first warm day here in SE KS with 61deg today was 65deg and even warmer the rest of the week my martins are really doing better!! seen two male fighting today seen this before not sure if they are fighting over female or cavity ? won't be long before nest building. Good luck this y...

I agree with Doug if you have Excluder entrances you should be fine! I added 12 conley II gourds this year have not seen starlings enter them yet even though everybody says it can happen starlings are not a big problem here and I can control that if needed cause I live in the country. Will be keepin...

The weather this year has broken a lot of records this year for everybody these cold temps seem to be worst every year, I wonder how many martins have died trying to make there way home? they really are survivor's but I believe as landlord's we will have to do more in the future if these wonderful b...

This will be my first year for my new 12 gourd rack, was wondering what everybody's opinion is if Martin's prefer gourds or housing?? I only have eight martin's now it seems about half and half.

Wow! Great Pics thanks for sharing, weather here about the same I only have eight martins at this time but am sure they will enjoy the warm temps this week forecast looks like cold again this weekend, crazy weather!!

Had temps of 18dg here in SE KS with wind chills of 12deg on Friday night, I have eight of my babies now and wasn't sure if they could survive these temps or not but all is well they really are survivors ! The forecast for this week gives temps into the 70s thank goodness . I believe the late cold s...

I understand we need to provide food and even heat for our martins when we get these extreme cold spells but what about water does anybody know how long they can live without water?? The ponds and lakes have froze back over here is KS. Any ideas on what I can do?

I always get a little ticked when I drive by someone's place and see a martin house pole's without predator guards on it !! Snakes and predators do their dirty work after dark so be assured you're losing eggs and birds. I learned this as a kid living on a farm snakes would eat all our chickens egg's...

I have had a lot of visitors the last few weeks and was even starting to worry a bit, but the worry is over everybody seems to be showing up to stay the last two days count of 8 birds so far. Music to my ears just love the singing they make!! They will have two nights of cold temps before things get...

congrats !! that has to feel good hope they stay with ya.

Same here in SE KS I have had some visitors but that it, I'm spending a lot of time watching my houses, would sure like to see some sunshine!! usually my blue birds have started building nests by now and that hasn't happened. Getting impatient!!

This will be my first year using the Conley ll Gourds, will keep a close eye on this problem! Question ? was wondering if there is any advantage to using the Extruder entrances vs using say the old style half moon type , I have used these for years and never had a starling enter them.

Congrats! Some on this forum say the arrivals this year have been early, not for me here in SE KS they are about 2wk late starting to worry a bit! Its been some crazy weather this year wishing for warm temps!! And a arrival !! Good luck everybody !

Wow! sounds like everybody had some good shoot'in last year, I popped 37 of the little evil doers last year thought that was good. Keep up the fight everybody sure the Martin's will appreciate it!!

Sorry no pics I should have said my pole is 2in diameter, you can mount a small keyway or piece of 1/2in metal strip about 2in long at the top of pole then cut a slot in the gourd rack or slide, when cranked all the way up it will lock into place. With the smaller diameter poles options are a bit mo...

handyman315, no doubt square pole would be easier I have round poles that I made myself one is a t-14 and very heavy the other is a 12 gourd rack we are having 50 mile hr wind here in Ks today and yes they can swing and twist, I have fixed this problem by making a notch in the slide of the rack and ...

Sounds like we have all went through the same problems , if possible use Gourds with a winch system its the only way to go! As for the SK barn houses in my opinion they should be outlawed! I lost so many birds because of these houses , Great house if you're wanting to feed owls and hawks.

Had my eye on the sky daily here in Southeast Kansas I'm ready to see purple!! LOL Last year it was March 5 maybe today is the day. Hope our feathered friends will be ok its going to get very cold this week, will try feeding this year looks like good fun! Any recommendations on site to order crickets?