Time for a new house?

lucyth · Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:37 pm

I'm trying to decide what to do about my martin house. It's about ten years old and the pole now sticks on the way up and down, which seems like a danger to any baby birds in the housing if it gets stuck and then slides down too quickly. I'm not a mechanical person-- is there a simple fix for this?

Also the house just seems less and less sturdy to me as it gets older. It's a trio house with 12 compartments and I usually get 3 to 4 pairs to nest. If I can get the pole to operate smoothly, how hard is it to change to gourds from a house, still using the same pole? I've had wing entrapment issues the last couple of years and it seems like gourds would maybe fix that problem.

Or I'd appreciate any suggestions on improving or replacing what I have. I am thinking of taking it down entirely since it's not that big of a colony, but I do enjoy the martins. I just don't want to endanger any birds with old and unsafe housing and I am not sure the best thing to do.

James Strickland FL · Sun Jan 20, 2013 5:24 pm

I have 2 Multi Purpose Poles and they have 2 Trio house with 6 gourds on each. I really like the easy of them. If the Trio needs hardware replaced Natures House has hardware replacement kits. I redid one of the Trio this winter and it is like new for another 12 years.

flyin-lowe · Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:15 pm

I bet if you would post your location (you don't need your exact address) but a general area there might be a member on here who could help you repair your house. Obviously without seeing it it is hard to say what all is going on but I am guessing somebody who is familiar with the Trios could have it like new in little to no time.

lucyth · Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:44 pm

I'm in Midland, Tx. I'd be happy to have some help figuring out the best thing if there is anyone in the area. It's pretty far west Texas.

leroy · Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:56 am

Hi, sounds like you have to replace the lanyard lock. Fairly easy fix.The small rectangular box on the bottom of the unit.

John Miller · Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:08 am

The trio houses are fun to repair and modify if you are fairly good with tools and need something to occupy you on cold winter nights.

You can switch out a house to a small gourd rack and probably not decrease acceptance by the martins, especially in Texas. I suggest a "starter rack" 2 inch square pole on a rope and pully and 6 to 8 excluder gourds. I suggest these gourds because they are big and maybe get more airflow in hot conditions, but will need to add PVC vent elbows.

Many people have other gourd preferences, but I just made this suggestion as a starting point to consider.
Get going! Time is short.

John Miller

DornCounty · Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:00 am

can you explain your wing entrapment issue? If you are using 12 separate nesting chambers you should not be using an SREH on the house. The area is just too small and may have caused the entrapment.

Can you post some photos of your house?

flyin-lowe · Mon Jan 21, 2013 4:43 pm

I know that sometimes starlings wont use smaller compartments but there is no issues with using SREH on smaller compartments. Wing entrapments typically occur when martins are fighting over a space. I don't think an SREH on a 6 inch deep house is any more dangerous then SREH on a 12 inch deep compartment.

DornCounty · Mon Jan 21, 2013 5:11 pm

flyin-lowe wrote:I know that sometimes starlings wont use smaller compartments but there is no issues with using SREH on smaller compartments. Wing entrapments typically occur when martins are fighting over a space. I don't think an SREH on a 6 inch deep house is any more dangerous then SREH on a 12 inch deep compartment.

I disagree. In a 6x6 compartment with babies, mom & dad, it gets very very crowded. Much more likely to get entrapment.

The TRIO factory even says to only use them on enlarged compartments, Crescent Doors.

USE ONLY ON ENLARGED COMPARTMENTS.