parkerdes
I too raise mealworms. I've fed them to the martins for some time now. Wasn't very easy to get them started though. I tried for quite a while before having any luck. I finialy got them started by flipping some of the beetles. Didn't take the martins long to accept them. After that they started accepting the worms.
Good luck!
Frank
Feeding Crickets
what size crickets do the Martins take to?
Thanks,
Bill
[quote="Louise Chambers"]the feeding article on main pmca page and in the sticky, basics for a new season on this page, list some sources. reptilefood.com, grubco, flukerfarms, all sell crickets and/or mealworms
Louise[/quote]
Thanks,
Bill
[quote="Louise Chambers"]the feeding article on main pmca page and in the sticky, basics for a new season on this page, list some sources. reptilefood.com, grubco, flukerfarms, all sell crickets and/or mealworms
Louise[/quote]
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
The largest you can get, 1 inchers, are best. Our martins are visting the feeder today and eating some crickets and giant mealworms. I'm waiting for the doggone rain to let up so I can put more out.
Louise
Louise
I've been meaning to get a feeder. what feeder do you recommend?
also I need a station where I can feed jumpers this year as well as have them be accessible to Martins that may want to feed them, just in case.
Any recommendations there?
Between heat and possible hawk predation we had 6 jumpers last year.
found some that were beyond hope, fed 2 till they weren't there any more.
thinking positive about those. don't know.
regards,
Bill
also I need a station where I can feed jumpers this year as well as have them be accessible to Martins that may want to feed them, just in case.
Any recommendations there?
Between heat and possible hawk predation we had 6 jumpers last year.
found some that were beyond hope, fed 2 till they weren't there any more.
thinking positive about those. don't know.
regards,
Bill
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Bill,
I have used the ones PMCA sells and like them fine. Easy to use, clean, and raise & lower. You might be able to rig it to replace one of the four feeding trays with a gourd for jumpers - that might be worth a try.
There was an article on building your own B&B in the Update last year - Linda Reynolds contributed it. That's another option
Hopefully this year we will have plenty of insects and the martins will have a really good year. We had 21 jumpers at one point in 2008 - none in 2009 but we lost babies both years.
Louise
I have used the ones PMCA sells and like them fine. Easy to use, clean, and raise & lower. You might be able to rig it to replace one of the four feeding trays with a gourd for jumpers - that might be worth a try.
There was an article on building your own B&B in the Update last year - Linda Reynolds contributed it. That's another option
Hopefully this year we will have plenty of insects and the martins will have a really good year. We had 21 jumpers at one point in 2008 - none in 2009 but we lost babies both years.
Louise
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Glad to help any time I can Bill - it is awful weather today BUT so nice to see the martins sit and fill up at the feeder. The crickets are our mainstay, since they are easy to store (frozen) and won't die in cold weather or crawl out of feeder, etc. the martins love the giant mealworms too but those will die if it's cold or very wet, and have to be stored in tub with food. Crickets seem to be the best bet. We keep trying eggs, but with no luck. Funny, the PMCA martins in PA prefer egg over anything else. TX martins must be more carnivorous.
Louise
Louise