Vents

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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Thought I'd post this in case anyone wants to know a place to buy vents. They have many styles. I got the 2 inch plastic with insect screens:


http://www.ventmyhouse.com/categories/R ... fit-Vents/

http://www.ventmyhouse.com/products/2%2 ... -6%29.html

You can see them in the photo. We placed 2 per room, close to the top of each room & across from each other, so heat would flow out. I made a template out of freezer paper first & used a hole saw to cut the holes. Then just popped them right in.

Toy in PA
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Andy H
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2013 2:49 pm
Location: WV/White Hall

That looks great!

The hive you installed them in is made of what?

Have you had heat problems in the past?

I am new to the hobby and getting ready to build a T-14. Just curious as I have been trying to figure the venting out for my location and if it was needed. I am a bit south west of you (Fairmont WV) and believe we experience similar seasonal temps.
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RC Moser
Posts: 1546
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2003 3:25 am

Very neat looking, looks better than my 1" PVC elbows sticking out at the back... Thanks for the idea.
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Mark Scott
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:21 pm
Location: Central Virginia
Martin Colony History: 2018 - Had 44 pairs and put out 100+ babies. 3-Super System 24’s. 2019 - Had 48 pairs

They look nice, looks like the 2" is the right size, if you had to do it over would you still use the 2". Is there a problem with rain blowing in and sunlight? Thanks, Mark
2018 - 44 pairs, produced 100+ babies. Using 3 Super System 24’s.
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Andy H wrote:That looks great!

The hive you installed them in is made of what?

Have you had heat problems in the past?

I am new to the hobby and getting ready to build a T-14. Just curious as I have been trying to figure the venting out for my location and if it was needed. I am a bit south west of you (Fairmont WV) and believe we experience similar seasonal temps.
Andy:
My houses are made of a special plastic that is weather resistant. They had no venting. Even my older houses (S&K Barns) had little venting & often you would see chicks hanging out during hot days. Due to increased heat in summer I lost several chicks in 2 days to heat. So I decided the houses needed venting.

It's your choice if you want to add venting or not.

Toy in PA
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Mark Scott wrote:They look nice, looks like the 2" is the right size, if you had to do it over would you still use the 2". Is there a problem with rain blowing in and sunlight? Thanks, Mark
Mark:
The size yuo use would depend on the size of your house/rooms. If average T-14 house size then I'd say 2 inch is a good size.

The vents did not let any rain in. We didn't have any wet nests. I don't think they let in much sunlight.

Toy in PA
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Mark Scott
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:21 pm
Location: Central Virginia
Martin Colony History: 2018 - Had 44 pairs and put out 100+ babies. 3-Super System 24’s. 2019 - Had 48 pairs

Did you use a 2" hole saw?
2018 - 44 pairs, produced 100+ babies. Using 3 Super System 24’s.
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Mark Scott wrote:Did you use a 2" hole saw?
Mark:

My husband said yes....2 inch hole saw.

Toy in PA
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Dave Duit
Posts: 2145
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
Location: Iowa / Nevada
Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.

I used these 2 inch round vents in all my gourds and metal houses. The cross ventilation is great. A two inch hole saw with a bit in the middle will allow these vents to snuggly fit. I also use lexel around the perimeter of the outside under the small lip of these vents for extra securing.
ImageMite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success.
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bwenger
Posts: 1057
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:24 pm
Location: Pennsylvania/Espyville/Pymatuning Reservoir Area
Martin Colony History: Taking care of 11 active public colonies and trying to start two more in northwestern PA. Also attempting to restart another one in southwestern PA, in Collier Township's Hilltop Park. In 2017, not sure what happened but the ASY male returned and then a couple of weeks later he was gone. It could have been weather related. No other birds showed up. I had a starling nesting at the Public site that I had trouble getting rid of.
In 2018, we fledged 629 martins at all of the sites.

Hi Toy,

The vents look good, nice and clean looking. You must be getting excited about the return of your martins already!

I think we all are, especially with 2 more months of winter in front of us.

Bill
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

bwenger wrote:Hi Toy,

The vents look good, nice and clean looking. You must be getting excited about the return of your martins already!

I think we all are, especially with 2 more months of winter in front of us.

Bill
Bill:

It'll be about 3 months until they return :). I've got plenty of crickets in the freezer & will start saving eggs shells soon. Mine ate a lot of egg shells last year & even fed them to their chicks. I tried the oyster shell, but they didn't like it.

Winter can end anytime as far as I'm concerned!!

Here's hoping we all have a great Martin year :).

Toy in PA
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msalcido
Posts: 254
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 3:25 pm
Location: Texas/Mineola

Very nice! Wish I would've known about this last weekend. I vented the Northstar I'm building and bought some washer and glued screen to them and had to drill holes in the washers to install in the house! :shock:

Thanks for sharing!
Mike

Fifth season of being a landlord! :) and a PMCA member!
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4th Gen Martin Fan
Posts: 1498
Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Location: TN/Collierville
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.

I believe that these vents are an excellent option for multiple projects that I am anticipating.
I would have used these Soffit vents in my modified Trio Grandma if I had known about them.
Wonderful idea!
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
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ChrisM
Posts: 143
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:01 pm
Location: Hiawatha, Kansas

Thanks for the info!!
I am for sure considering vents this year!!
It will ease my mind if my Martins are cooler in their abodes.

Chris M
NE Kansas
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Mark Scott
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:21 pm
Location: Central Virginia
Martin Colony History: 2018 - Had 44 pairs and put out 100+ babies. 3-Super System 24’s. 2019 - Had 48 pairs

Toy in Pa, installed them today on my T-14 and they look great. You had a good idea!
2018 - 44 pairs, produced 100+ babies. Using 3 Super System 24’s.
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Thanks everyone.....but it wasn't really my idea. Due to the increased heat in many states some were adding venting of some sort. Our old house (built 1914) has louver vents in the attic gables, that are screened & open year around. So I thought I'd try to find something that would be like that for the martin houses.

I hope what ever you all have added to your Martin houses works as well as it has for my houses.

Now if we could just find a way, other than nest changing, to keep blowflies out or kill the larva we'd have it made :).

Toy in PA
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