T-14 Vs Gourd

[guteart]

Update on my T-14's versus gourds, looks like they going to take some of the apartments. I'm one happy camper as last season none went to the T-14's. However I painted both of them white.

[birdy girl]

I think this will be different from state to state. We have had a T-14 up for 5 years (this being our 6th) and only 4 pair in it last year. We have 4 gourds under the T-14 and had 3 pair in the gourds. This year we added tunnels on every other T-14 cavity. We are now seeing some activity on the the T-14. We are hoping to have more takers this year in the T-14. Last year we had 92 pair with 4 pair in T-14 and the rest in gourds. So here gourds take priority. We are hoping the tunnels will help attract them to the house but will have to wait and see.

[tonyg]

Guteart, i'm having that same problem...put up my first T-14 style house(unpainted) with 2 Bo 11's hanging from it. They all are going to my trios(white) and gourds (white) and not even bothering to check out the red cedar T-14. Might have to paint it white...Tony

[DAKdude]

I really like the design of the T-14, it is easy to service, well designed and well made and they look good. But I have found the same thing; the birds fill up the Troyer gourds below the T-14's before they start using the compartments in the T-14 itself. (I have 8 troyer horizontals on each T-14) They do love the horizontal gourds. Once the gourds are full the the T-14's start to fill up. I have 2 T-14s and will keep them and would recommend them to others.

In my 6 years of being a landlord this is the preferences for martins in my colonies. 1.) Troyer horizontals, 2) T-14, 3) Super Gourds vertical, 4) Aluminum houses. I don't have any natural gourds unfortunately, but I have heard that birds really like them.

I have tried 3 kinds of aluminum houses but I don't think I can mention the brands on this forum. They are not very popular at my colonies and I have finally taken them all down and replaced them with gourd racks. There are landlords here in Florida that have success with aluminum housing, but if there is a choice within the same colony, the aluminum houses have always been the last choice for late comers.

have a great martin season
James

[guteart]

Well, Martin landlords, I have to report today I found that more of the Martin's have taken to the T-14. I'm going to repost with pictures. Thanks Happy Martins