What can I do? OR What would you do?

[Connie]

I need some advice please. I purchased this house at the Angola State Prison Rodeo. I bought it a few years back before I read up on the martins and knew what kind of housing I needed. I think it is a beautiful house and would like to see if anyone can tell me how to modify it. I would really like to keep it not only because I paid way too much for it but it is also unique. (I think) The prisoner that made it told me he makes a limited amount each year because they are only allowed so much time to work on the items they sell. Has anyone ever seen one before?
Ok, here are the measurements. I hope I can make myself understood. If not and you think you can help me please ask as many questions as needed and I will answer the best I can. I can also take more pictures if need be. Thanks in advance to those willing to help!
There are 12 cavities, 6 on back and 6 on front. This does not count the 2 on each side under the gable ends that are formed when you put the shell back over the inside box. The others are:
4 1/2" wide x 5 1/2" high x 5 3/4" deep.
Of course I would want to be able to do nest checks without having to pull the shell off, which would never work. What a crazy design.
I sure would hate to throw this away. Can anyone help?
Please start at the last photo first; I did not realize this was the order they would show up in.

[John Miller]

I'd try to sell it on Ebay as a decorative garden bird house. People love pretty bird houses. Several years ago in St. Louis, there was some sort of crafts fair and one vendor was selling small decorative bird houses attached to broom sticks. You could see people carrying those things above their heads throughout the crowd.

John

[Dale D]

Connie,
From what I see in the photos with quite a bit of work it could be converted, but it would take away from the outside appearance since half of the holes would have to be closed off to enlarge the remaining compartments.

I think I would go with John's suggestion, or if you are really attached to maybe mount it on a short post somewhere in your yard for a decorative piece.

[JamesinIA]

Connie, that is a very nice looking house and I can see why it appealed to you.

It would be easy to enlarge the compartments by using a hole saw between the front and back then blocking off one of the holes. I am afraid there is no easy way to modify it to do nest checks. I suppose you could enclose the outside of the inner part of the house and make removable panels to do the nest checks but you would still have to take the outside shell off to do them. It also looks like it would need to be mounted on a fairly substantial pole.

James

[KathyF]

Connie, depends on how handy you are & how motivated you are to keep it.

You could cut the outer shell and hinge the lower level panel to raise up to expose the bottom 3 nests, and the same with the upper 3. Personally, I'd close off the top gable floors - paint some pieces of vinyl siding a pitch black color and glue them inside the holes, so people can't tell if they're open or not.

You could convert one of the lower nest boxes to be a double (using James' suggestion) and close off the other holes and let bluebirds, chickadees, tufted titmouse, etc. use it....

or enlarge the inner nest cavities (almost eliminating all the individuals), enlarge one of the upper holes, mount it on a tree and let woodpeckers nest in it...

all kinds of options - depending on your dedication to keeping it...

[Connie]

I'd try to sell it on Ebay as a decorative garden bird house. People love pretty bird houses. Several years ago in St. Louis, there was some sort of crafts fair and one vendor was selling small decorative bird houses attached to broom sticks. You could see people carrying those things above their heads throughout the crowd.

John

John, just what I thought I would hear! LOL, can't blame a person for trying. I saw everything everybody commented on but was hoping I was missing something. Oh well...I don't want to put it up as decoration, I am afraid I would just be attracting those dang sparrows.
Thanks for the input. Expensive mistake.

[Connie]

Dale, James and Kathy,

Like I told John I knew what I was going to hear. Oh well. Thank you folks for trying to help. It's what this forum does best.

[Bill Pec]

I would advise the prisoner not to build Purple Martin Houses and/or would send him the design plans for building a T-14 having SREHs. I'm only "partially" kidding.

Bill

[MingjoMartins]

Bill -

That is a great idea - and I used it successfully with our local Boy Scout/Eagle Scout groups and 4H groups locally.

They make some great T-14 houses to display at fairs and other places, and have had great luck selling them at fair and online after the project completes.

In some cases, some have kept the houses, and are actively seeking purple martin tenants - great way to promote our hobby to our youth.

John

[Bill Pec]

John,

That is a great project Hope others follow your initiative.

Bill

[Connie]

[quote="Bill Pec"]I would advise the prisoner not to build Purple Martin Houses and/or would send him the design plans for building a T-14 having SREHs. I'm only "partially" kidding.

Bill,
When I go back to the rodeo this year (October) I am definitely going to tell the prisoner why his "so called Martin Houses" do not work for PM's.
I doubt it will make much difference to him as this is their only chance to earn extra money to put in their prisoner accounts.
I don't see him caring enough to lose the money he makes every year.
But I will tell him nicelyl that the money I gave him was wasted by me.
Don't see him caring about that either though. Not his fault I didn't do any research before buying either.

[JL Murray]

Tell him he ought to be locked up!

Actually i was thinking if the bottom was open and you centered a pole through the center of that house close off the holes and add some rough cut cyprus wood baffles it would make a sharp 4 sided bat condo.

[Bill Pec]

Connie,

Not to worry, I'm sure you will do your best. Just leave the Rodeo as a free person.
All you did was join the ranks of us who have started our martin careers with an "expensive clunker" of a martin house. I think it might be a "Rite of Passage", or something? In the three years I have owned my clunker I have make 15 modifications to it and its supporting pole to make it safe and acceptable for both me and the martins. The house now joins the ranks of just marginally adequate and it still is a piece of junk. Oh, did I mention those modifications cost me eight stitches to my lip? Some times it is just not worth the effort. I must admit making modifications is an enjoyable part of our hobby.
Enjoy the passion,

Bill

[John Miller]

Connie

I want to clarify my thinking on this house. It's a beautiful house, and it's the way we did martin houses for a many decades, and there may be a location where there are few starlings or sparrows where it would make a good home for martins. As said, it also makes a nice decorative house for a garden, and holes could have black boards put behind them, either solid or with very small holes for a wren or chickadee.

But you want to pursue martins using all the management techniques we've learned, and so it won't suit your needs that way.

John M

[LarryMelcher/KY]

I think this is an excellent example of someone wanting to make a great bird house, but builds first, before learning about birds. Or, he read a great bird book....that was published before 1970.

It is a nice looking house. He did a great job, but did not have all the latest designs that are important for Purple Martins survival.

Let's say I had this house. Yes, I would probably first use it as a decorative piece in my basement by the pool table. If I were to use it outside, I think after fighting the house sparrows and Starlings that seem to really be attracted to houses.... after successfully getting a Purple Martin to claim a cavity... after trying my best to protect those martins from Starlings with only a pellet gun... you could not use a trap in a single compartment without lifting the entire house off...
It would be best kept by you, and out of a persons hands that does not understand Purple Martins. I'd use it as decoration and plug the holes. I give him an "E" for effort. It is beautiful. But not a good martin house.

[Connie]

Tell him he ought to be locked up!

Bahahaha....Funny...just my type of humor JL!

[Connie]

Larry,
You are so right....and like I said, I didn't know what I was buying because I didn't do my research.

I agree it is a beautiful house and he did a great job. Just too bad I can't modify it. Oh well, live and learn.

[Connie]

Thanks John,
I knew what you meant. Really not worth trying to modify.

JL, might would do the bat house thing if I could get hubby to hang the bat house I already have....he drives me batty ......build, build, build, for everyone but me!

[Matt F.]

Connie,
I may be worrying too much, but considering Angola is Louisiana's only maximum security prison, and that there are some serious, violent offenders there, you may not want to give the guy too hard of a time, the next time you see him.

That said, it is a very attractive house, and as Larry and John had alluded to, was probably built using "old style" Martin house parameters.
It could be a fun project: cutting some access doors, increasing compartment sizes, modifying it be used with a winch/pulley pole system, painting, etc.
The end result could still be a beautiful house, but much more Martin and landlord friendly.

[Connie]

First of all, no worries about me getting myself in trouble at Angola, I have seen and heard too much about that horror house to incense a prisoner.
They only let the "more gentle" (ha, like there is such a thing) stand outside the fence while selling their items. Most of them are behind the fence and you take your money to a payment window and go back and pick up your item.

So, what if I closed up all 6 of the holes on one side and also the 2 front and rear ones under the gables.....then made some doors on the sides for maintenance and viewing?
I would have to mount the house on a pole, I was thinking a 4 x 4 post , and keep it at a managable height because I would not want to take up any more space with a pole going thru the house......
Also instead of removing the interior walls, just drill a hole thru the middle wall of each cavity.....
Would the cavity sizes be ok?
I could face the closed up side away from my house and there are not even any neighbors behind me for at least 3 or 4 acres that would have to look at the "ugly side".....
Thoughts??