Trio m12k house

[Bret]

I had someone give me a trio m12k house. It needs some work. I'm currently using a t14, Troyer , & s&k gourds. Is there anything I should know or any suggestions before I spend a lot time and money on this house. The same person gave me a natureline gourd system

[tonyg]

Depending on what repair it needs, first thing to do is modify it to 6 compartments from 12, (3 holes each side) and if you have problems with starlings, convert round holes to SREH..there are two guys on this forum that know a little more about the trios ( Matt and Dorn, chime in).. They will get you straightened out..good luck..

[Craig Haddox]

You can switch from 12 to 6 compartments by removing the middle dividers. Use the dividers for the backs. Put handles on the backs to open them easily. Also use porch dividers. Adding nest trays will keep the nest drier. Add extra perches also I use green garden stakes on all 5 of my houses. My martins love these houses. If you can get a spare-o-door trap they work great for sparrow control. Good luck.

[John Miller]

Some later model Trios are constructed with the walls held in with bend over tabs and over-lapping walls inside and you can't pull out the interior walls. Maybe our model has individual inside walls with screws.

I prefer to keep the inside wall anyway and drill a 3 inch hole through it, 1.5 inches off the floor to make a deep back nest pocket. If the wall has tabs, it's not held as secure and I found drilling was a nightmare. So I took the whole house apart and cut walls down from the top with metal sheers and bent over or sanded any sharp points, with a box of band aides at my side.

These photos from a previous post include show general with the construction for cutting a house, but remember that that's just one way to approach.
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... john++trio

Dorn county puts sub porches on his doors below the crescents to make the crescents more restrictive...I've done some this way, but look for recent photos of his, which are well done.

In any case, go to the PMCA home page and review the general information sheet on modifying Trios.

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... john++trio

John Miller

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I remodeled 2 old houses last winter, it's amazing what a few stainless steel screws and new paint will do. I made the conversion from 12 to 6. My model happened to have hanging bars for the center walls so it was an easy job to get them out and make the conversion but I spent a little extra time and insulated the attic.

[DornCounty]

Post up some photos if you can.. would love to see what it looks like.

The newer MK12s come with removable inside door stops, so you can expand the compartments.

I would recommend expanding the compartements as you get much better production out of them, and it is very hard to fill a 12 compartment trio much more than 60% anyway. if you do expand be sure to put SREH doors on the house. If you don't it's probably better to leave the house as a 12 compartment setup.

I also would not remove any interior doors as they seem to be an important part of the structure to me.

Feel free to ask any questions. would love to help.

[James Strickland FL]

Nature House has all the part you need to redo the Trio house. I ovehauled my Mk 12 this year and the hardware kit had everything I needed.

[jr 2]

what i did on my 4 m12k;took houses apart;added cresent doors with add on porches even with bottom of cresent made from alumium with stair traction tape on porches;3 inch holes in inner dividers too change from 6 too 12 compartments and added tunnels on opposite end of each floor on houses and arranged compartments whereas each pair has its own big porch and porches on tunnels;;i have 5 compartments in each house and room left for 2 spar-a- door;;also added new nuts and bolts where needed and added 1/2 foam insulation too each attic and drilled extra 7/8th vent holes in inner dividers going both ways for cross ventilation and the tunnels on side will help with ventilation;i have had theses houses for 15 year and i believe they will last forever with upkeep; jr2;;;

[Bret]

Thanks for all the help. It appears that I have a newer style house. Hopefully it will enhance my success even more. 3 years ago I had 3 pair. Last year we ended up with 34 pair.

[Matt F.]

Thanks for all the help. It appears that I have a newer style house. Hopefully it will enhance my success even more. 3 years ago I had 3 pair. Last year we ended up with 34 pair.

That's a big increase increase!
Nice work Bret!

[Bret]

Yes we've been very fortunate, of course it took us about 5 years to get them, so I try to do everything I can to keep them happy.