feeding tray height
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jeff gregory
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 4:45 pm
- Location: little chicago/sc
How high should a feeding tray be?
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The Olsons
- Posts: 3200
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:57 pm
- Location: North Padre Island, TX
Mine feed of a sail boat which no hawk or other aerial predators can access!!!
Love it or leave it~~~Astrid :-)
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Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
jeff, we offer a homemade B&B and our platform is mounted about 5' high. It is located about 50' from our racks, and the martins use it regularly.
We prefer the lowered height, because when we need to use it the most, we do not have to worry about icing conditions that might prevent us from lowering it. It also is very convenient when we need to refill the trays that we offer. The martins can clearly see the offerings from the top of their racks, and it has been very successful at our site for many years.
We not only use it for supplemental feeding, but also offer additional nesting material and pullet sized oyster shells.
Photos, instructions on how to build it, and a materials list is offered in an article published in the Purple Martin Update Vol. 18(1)
We prefer the lowered height, because when we need to use it the most, we do not have to worry about icing conditions that might prevent us from lowering it. It also is very convenient when we need to refill the trays that we offer. The martins can clearly see the offerings from the top of their racks, and it has been very successful at our site for many years.
We not only use it for supplemental feeding, but also offer additional nesting material and pullet sized oyster shells.
Photos, instructions on how to build it, and a materials list is offered in an article published in the Purple Martin Update Vol. 18(1)
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda
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jeff gregory
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 4:45 pm
- Location: little chicago/sc
what r pullet size oyster shells do i crush them with a hammer or just feed it to them as is ?thanks for the advice
jeff gregory
jeff gregory
I believe a pullet is a hen that is less than a year old. They eat the crushed oyster shells for grit to help digest food. I think the Purple Martins also use it for calcium to help with egg production. The feed store employee will know to get the small crushed oyster shells if you ask for pullet size. There is no need to crush them with a hammer again, but it probably wouldn't hurt either.
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Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
jeff, here are a few links that offer some general information about oyster shells and their purpose:
http://www.wammocks.com/Crushed-Oyster- ... 069629.htm
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Manna-Pro-Pul ... b/10323564
Here is a link to a PMCA post regarding a sub-standard variety of *oyster shells*. You might want to avoid purchasing the product that was discussed.
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... d1c6088801
When in doubt about a product or its use, you might consider using *Google* or another search engine to investigate. I hardly purchase anything without *Googling* it first.
http://www.wammocks.com/Crushed-Oyster- ... 069629.htm
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Manna-Pro-Pul ... b/10323564
Here is a link to a PMCA post regarding a sub-standard variety of *oyster shells*. You might want to avoid purchasing the product that was discussed.
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... d1c6088801
When in doubt about a product or its use, you might consider using *Google* or another search engine to investigate. I hardly purchase anything without *Googling* it first.
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda