Plans for chalets!!! (Thought someone could use them)

[MDavis]

Here's my design of the chalets I have built. The martins love them and they are easy to use and clean up. If you have any questions just ask, I'll do my best to answer.

Note: I forgot to mention in the drawings that I use 1/2" CPVC to hang them. I use Gourd Mounting Arms (GMA'S) but you could use allthread or whatever works best in your situation.

If for some reason you cant zoom in and /or print them, pm me with you're email and I can send you the copies that way.

[Glynn B - LA]

Very nice.... Do you have any photo's of them in use? This will give us your setup for success.





Glynn

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Nice job! I would assume you use western red cedar to keep the wieght down.

[barry resvick]

Hi Mike!
This is exactly what iv been looking for as we too want to move out you way and as i hear it this is the only type of housing that species will nest in,but what do you do for nest checks as i didnt notice any access doors or does the front hinge down?

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I have a few chalets, the martins use them, and yours looks like a good design, I like yours.

But there are some problems with chalets, the main problems are associated with their weight and size. They get real heavy if you put a bunch on a pole, so you need strong poles, good cables and winches, and lots of cement to keep them from blowing over due to all of the wind resistance. Because of the weight, you need strong arms on the racks, and you normally cannot put many on a rack...just thought that I would mention the things that I don't like about them.

I think they are some of the best looking type of housing....

[Guest]

VERY nice! Thanks for posting.

[MDavis]

Thank you guys for your questions and opinions.

Glynn B: I will have to work on getting you some pics, my format on the pics I have needs to be changed.

~Ray~04: I do use red cedar, but not only for weight but how long it will last as raw wood. plus out here its not priced bad at a small hometown building supply.

barry resvick: Well if you move out this way let me know, I feel confident in attracting martins around this area maybe I could help you out also. After a few years of trial and error I think I might have it down. Its worked for myself and others. The birds out here are slightly misunderstood in my opinion, they nest in wooden boxes like these, Natural cavities (pilings,snags), gourds, also in a few cases they live in multi-compartment houses. I think what it may be is that alternate housing just hasn't been introduced as mid-west and eastern colonies have been.
But to answer your question, I have gourds and chalets at my colony and I have not seen a preference between the two.
About the housing, the front door does hinge down for nest checks.

Emil Pampell: You are so right about the weight. I agree, without the proper pole you would run into issues. With this in mind, as I built them I have only planned to hang 8 max on my SS24. The rest will be filled with gourds. Thanks for your input, because i wouldn't think of mentioning this unless someone had asked.

[barry resvick]

Hi Mike!
We live just west of Didsbury Alberta.What part of Western Canada do you reside in?Im very interested to gain more knowledge about the other species of purple martin. I truly think that our final destination as far as where we are going to move would have a direct bearing on weather we could have martins or not.Iv heard they only reside on the coast and not inland.

[Don]

I continue to wonder why people feel the need for a sloped roof on martin houses. As the picture shows a flat top is perfectly acceptable to the martins and it saves on weight, cost of materials, and ease of construction.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Don, I also make the flat roofs on the chalets:

Its so much easier to make the flat roofs, so that is why I made them flat. I put a small cut near the edges on the bottom of the roof, its a drip line so water doesn't go near the edge of the chalet.