Ok here's thee deal.
Birds haven't had a meal since nighttime on Tuesday.
I tried a small amount of crickets in compartments yesterday. Don't know if they were eaten.
6 birds looking pretty bad.
No more crickets left.
I have to leave in an HOUR (Realtor)
It is supposed to be 46 by noon and climb steadily to 53 and sunny by 5pm.
Currently 39 and drizzle.
No birds on the porches.....
I have eggs ready and waiting to flip...
I hate to get them out - and wet - on the OUTSIDE chance they will take them (Never been fed before) and I'm wondering if I should let them be until they can feed on their own this afternoon.
HELP PLEASE!!!
Thanks!!!
URGENT! To feed or not to feed NOW - PLEASE help me decide!
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
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- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
With not much time and only eggs, plus promise of warmer temps and sunshine later, I suggest leaving them inside and out of the cold and rain. IF the weather does not warm up this will not end up being good advice, but maybe you could try to feed later, if need be.
Sheri, can you get some mealworms? I think getting martins to eat eggs the first time is not easy. Mealworms can be tossed just like crickets and they move a bit.
Others may have advice totally different from mine, but we all hope your birds can get out there and feed today. Mine are staying tucked in gourds this AM, not coming out to get crickets from feeder. Good luck and give us a report later, please.
Louise
Sheri, can you get some mealworms? I think getting martins to eat eggs the first time is not easy. Mealworms can be tossed just like crickets and they move a bit.
Others may have advice totally different from mine, but we all hope your birds can get out there and feed today. Mine are staying tucked in gourds this AM, not coming out to get crickets from feeder. Good luck and give us a report later, please.
Louise
Thanks Louise!
I'm thinking the same thing.
IF the weather does NOT warm up I will drive ANYWHERE in/near Dallas (I'm an hour NW) to get crickets, mealworms whatever from ANYONE! Who has some to spare? I'll order you more immediately!!!
It does look like it's warming/clearing already so I think I can be reasonably optimistic (???)
No mealworms.
I'm in a rural area.
I can hand-dig GRUB worms out from under some old hay but they are bigger - huge really.
I could find earthworms too???
Well it's mute this a.m. then and I won't be around until after 2pm so I'll reevaluate then and report later.
Thanks again!!!
I'm thinking the same thing.
IF the weather does NOT warm up I will drive ANYWHERE in/near Dallas (I'm an hour NW) to get crickets, mealworms whatever from ANYONE! Who has some to spare? I'll order you more immediately!!!
It does look like it's warming/clearing already so I think I can be reasonably optimistic (???)
No mealworms.
I'm in a rural area.
I can hand-dig GRUB worms out from under some old hay but they are bigger - huge really.
I could find earthworms too???
Well it's mute this a.m. then and I won't be around until after 2pm so I'll reevaluate then and report later.
Thanks again!!!
Proud "Mother" of Edgar / Dottie and (32?) 2009 Fledglings!!! :D
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Guest
I'm going to feed today between 11 and 11:30 if they don't leave the cavites. They have been sitting tight for two days maybe three. I put thawed crickets in the tunnel at the entry and push them to each side of the opening. I have done this successfully in the past.
They will more than likely flush but will come right back if the weather is to bad after I raise the racks back up..
dick
They will more than likely flush but will come right back if the weather is to bad after I raise the racks back up..
dick
Shari...
This unusual 4-5 day wet/cool weather system is going to teach many of us a lesson we should have learned years ago. It is necessary to prepare ahead of time. We need to be prepared "for a rainy week".
We need to teach our PM's when the weather is good...what they need to know when the weather is bad. ....and we can have lots of fun doing it. Cricket flippin' is now going to be a part of OUR yearly training regimen.
This is the last time this is going to happen to me and my birds.
On Thursday (the 2nd day of this weather), I put scrambled eggs on the porches of the T-14. I saw at least 4 of the 12 PM's eat some of the eggs (which was encouraging). If the egg pieces were too large, they either carried them off, or threw the eggs off the porch. Friday it rained all day. I am hoping the birds will be able to feed today (day 4), but it will be cloudy and chilly this morning with highes in the 50's. If they survive past today, then tomorrow will be OK.
Good luck to us all....
geezer
This unusual 4-5 day wet/cool weather system is going to teach many of us a lesson we should have learned years ago. It is necessary to prepare ahead of time. We need to be prepared "for a rainy week".
We need to teach our PM's when the weather is good...what they need to know when the weather is bad. ....and we can have lots of fun doing it. Cricket flippin' is now going to be a part of OUR yearly training regimen.
This is the last time this is going to happen to me and my birds.
On Thursday (the 2nd day of this weather), I put scrambled eggs on the porches of the T-14. I saw at least 4 of the 12 PM's eat some of the eggs (which was encouraging). If the egg pieces were too large, they either carried them off, or threw the eggs off the porch. Friday it rained all day. I am hoping the birds will be able to feed today (day 4), but it will be cloudy and chilly this morning with highes in the 50's. If they survive past today, then tomorrow will be OK.
Good luck to us all....
geezer
#PMCA #birding #birders
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
This is a good time to mention that the Winter issue of the Update, Vol 18(1), contained an article on feeding by Linda Reynolds. The Need to Feed is followed by an article on how to make a platform feeder for your martins, also by Linda and her husband Paul.
Linda's article has lots of good tips, if you haven't read it yet, it's time! There are also several articles on feeding online, along with Forum threads on feeding. Articles are on main PMCA web page, in the Forum archives, and in Update back issues online.
This nasty weather does present a golden opportunity to try to learn about supplemental weather. Many landlords are reporting their first success with feeding and that is a GOOD thing. The martins will remember next year, and the year after that, and new martins will learn from watching experienced feeders. It is 47 here with a light wind, and spitting drizzly rain. The first martins are just now emerging from their gourds to visit the feeder, so time for me to add more crickets and toss a few crickets, just in case some have not learned about the feeder yet.
One more caution - as soon as the weather improves and your martins go off to feed, be sure to lower all housing and check for weak or dead birds. They can block entrances, trapping other birds inside.
Louise... off to work with the lovely, yucky crickets
As Linda says in her article, thanks to Ed Donath especially, and also to other landlords who helped pioneer supplemental feeding.
Linda's article has lots of good tips, if you haven't read it yet, it's time! There are also several articles on feeding online, along with Forum threads on feeding. Articles are on main PMCA web page, in the Forum archives, and in Update back issues online.
This nasty weather does present a golden opportunity to try to learn about supplemental weather. Many landlords are reporting their first success with feeding and that is a GOOD thing. The martins will remember next year, and the year after that, and new martins will learn from watching experienced feeders. It is 47 here with a light wind, and spitting drizzly rain. The first martins are just now emerging from their gourds to visit the feeder, so time for me to add more crickets and toss a few crickets, just in case some have not learned about the feeder yet.
One more caution - as soon as the weather improves and your martins go off to feed, be sure to lower all housing and check for weak or dead birds. They can block entrances, trapping other birds inside.
Louise... off to work with the lovely, yucky crickets
As Linda says in her article, thanks to Ed Donath especially, and also to other landlords who helped pioneer supplemental feeding.
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Hopefully your birds will be able to get out this afternoon and feed. If there's little wind, there will be more bugs and the martins will do fine.
Suggest you go to a big box pet store today and buy a few containers of large meal worms -- you get more bug for the buck this way than crickets. Late in the day just before your martins return, scatter some meal worms on the porches and in compartments -- if the worms are chilled they won't move too fast. Do it again tomorrow mid-morning if you feel inclined..but timing there gets tricky. If you flush the martins out and temps are warming..they may go ahead and head out to feed. Try flipping some meal worms too.
Foremost..do the best you can and try not to worry. We do what we can.
John M
Suggest you go to a big box pet store today and buy a few containers of large meal worms -- you get more bug for the buck this way than crickets. Late in the day just before your martins return, scatter some meal worms on the porches and in compartments -- if the worms are chilled they won't move too fast. Do it again tomorrow mid-morning if you feel inclined..but timing there gets tricky. If you flush the martins out and temps are warming..they may go ahead and head out to feed. Try flipping some meal worms too.
Foremost..do the best you can and try not to worry. We do what we can.
John M
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The Olsons
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: North Padre Island, TX
Shari,
I am also about to pull out my hair. If I were you I probably would go to the nearest store and get crickets and/or meal worms in case the weather does not get better you have food available.
Flinging or feeder tray is out of the question here because of the gulls
They even think pine straw is food when I go outside to cut it.....I have a freezer full of crickets and do not know what to do. The wind is blowing, it is 48 degrees and light rain.....should I lower the systems and put crickets in the gourds or should I try to take the biggest ladder so I can reach every gourd? What do you think is more of a scare to the martins.....?
Astrid
I am also about to pull out my hair. If I were you I probably would go to the nearest store and get crickets and/or meal worms in case the weather does not get better you have food available.
Flinging or feeder tray is out of the question here because of the gulls
They even think pine straw is food when I go outside to cut it.....I have a freezer full of crickets and do not know what to do. The wind is blowing, it is 48 degrees and light rain.....should I lower the systems and put crickets in the gourds or should I try to take the biggest ladder so I can reach every gourd? What do you think is more of a scare to the martins.....?Astrid
Love it or leave it~~~Astrid :-)
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Astrid
You don't need to be on a ladder in the rain.
Let the martins stay holed up until the rain stops..then lower the rack and systematically and quickly put a spoon full of crickets in. You could try putting some in the tunnel in the front, but I'm concerned about the gulls. I think it would be okay to just drop one inch crickets into the nest bowls. I once tried using the little cardboard egg shell pockets that come with shipped crickets and press it down into the nest material to hold crickets. Works fairly well. You are resourcesful...do what seems best and try not to worry.
John M
You don't need to be on a ladder in the rain.
Let the martins stay holed up until the rain stops..then lower the rack and systematically and quickly put a spoon full of crickets in. You could try putting some in the tunnel in the front, but I'm concerned about the gulls. I think it would be okay to just drop one inch crickets into the nest bowls. I once tried using the little cardboard egg shell pockets that come with shipped crickets and press it down into the nest material to hold crickets. Works fairly well. You are resourcesful...do what seems best and try not to worry.
John M
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The Olsons
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: North Padre Island, TX
John,
Thank you for your advise; I always appreciate it. I had planned to do as you suggested but realized we had all these migrating martins around as well and I did not want to disturb them as miserable as they looked by pulling the systems down. So we tried to fling crickets with the sling shot and then with a spoon which worked real well. The gulls came after few minutes and we hid behind a bush until they were gone and then tried again, but THEN we "invented" our own "feeding tray". Some crickets that fell on the sail boat caught one martins attention and then the second and third....so I dumped an entire bag of crickets on the front of the boat and voila they all came and ate.....I am soooo excited and happy because sea gulls do not know how to maneuver around all the lines and the martins are safe from the and the hawk.
I posted a separate thread with a lot of pictures "Best feeding tray ever"....the martins keep going back to the boat ever few minutes and I provided a second bag of crickets for them. We have about 30 migrating martins in the yard since this morning and they were more hungry than out resident martins....I am sure you can tell how happy I am..... Now I can feed, feed, feed 
Astrid
Thank you for your advise; I always appreciate it. I had planned to do as you suggested but realized we had all these migrating martins around as well and I did not want to disturb them as miserable as they looked by pulling the systems down. So we tried to fling crickets with the sling shot and then with a spoon which worked real well. The gulls came after few minutes and we hid behind a bush until they were gone and then tried again, but THEN we "invented" our own "feeding tray". Some crickets that fell on the sail boat caught one martins attention and then the second and third....so I dumped an entire bag of crickets on the front of the boat and voila they all came and ate.....I am soooo excited and happy because sea gulls do not know how to maneuver around all the lines and the martins are safe from the and the hawk.
I posted a separate thread with a lot of pictures "Best feeding tray ever"....the martins keep going back to the boat ever few minutes and I provided a second bag of crickets for them. We have about 30 migrating martins in the yard since this morning and they were more hungry than out resident martins....I am sure you can tell how happy I am.....
Now I can feed, feed, feed Astrid
Love it or leave it~~~Astrid :-)
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
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Astrid..that's great news. I said you were "resourcesful." You are "martin" woman. Let's hear you roar! (just kidding..and dating myself).
Shari G -- we all hope things are better at your site too.
John M
Shari G -- we all hope things are better at your site too.
John M
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The Olsons
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: North Padre Island, TX
Thanks John 
I appreciate it and thank you for your confidence in me .....it did help. I was so determined this afternoon; I needed to come up with something there was no stopping me. And yes, I can roar since I am a Leo.... A Leo who feels like a martin....gosh, I know I am rambling on, but I just came inside from hawk patrol and ALL the martins are using the new feeding tray (the boat) all the time......they have so perked up. I am in feeding heaven....
Astrid
I appreciate it and thank you for your confidence in me .....it did help. I was so determined this afternoon; I needed to come up with something there was no stopping me. And yes, I can roar since I am a Leo.... A Leo who feels like a martin....gosh, I know I am rambling on, but I just came inside from hawk patrol and ALL the martins are using the new feeding tray (the boat) all the time......they have so perked up. I am in feeding heaven.... Astrid
Love it or leave it~~~Astrid :-)