House Size and Upgrade
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Texas Mike
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:03 pm
- Location: Frisco, TX
All, I have had a very successful hatch this year with almost 3 fledglings in every hole. I have 13 of my 14 nests full in a wooden house. My house took a beating in April during tennis ball size hail, but the martin's stayed. Anyhow, I am wanting to upgrade to a bigger house (I think) - what recommendations would you have? I have had Martin's for 8 or 9 years now and all my neighbors enjoy them and keep the kids from messing with them so they can watch them.
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
I would add a second house, rather than replace your 14-room house with a bigger house. Nest checks on one larger house will take longer to complete, and if anything goes wrong - problem with pole or cable, etc - better not to have all your eggs in one place.
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Texas Mike
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:03 pm
- Location: Frisco, TX
I don't do nest checks so that is not a big deal to me. I am not sure I have room for another pole and house with how the yard is setup.
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- Martin's feeding in the evening.
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Great photo!
There's one big honker of a house (that i would love to get one day myself), it's the Trendsetter 28.
http://shop.purplemartin.org/Trendsette ... tails.aspx
There's one big honker of a house (that i would love to get one day myself), it's the Trendsetter 28.
http://shop.purplemartin.org/Trendsette ... tails.aspx
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John Miller
- Posts: 4867
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Mike
Folks who don't do nest checks cannot say for sure how many pairs they have. I'm sorry, but just seeing a bunch of birds does not equal a full house. You probably have some nests.
that said, I'm grateful for anyone who hosts martins, whether they do nest checks or not. But I try and try to tell people that if they can only do one nest check per season, to try and lower soon after the babies have hatched and treat for mites. Otherwise, some years mites really weaken the babies and many fewer actually fledge.
Now, as a wooden house works for you, I'd consider another. But be aware that most today have deep compartments and you may then get hit by starlings with round hole entrances, so you may want SREH entrances on your next house. I assume this one has 6 x 6 units, or smaller, which are less favored by starlings. I'd look at the Trendsetter's wooden "cedar suites" house, and after no longer being annoyed with me -- by next year -- consider at least some nest checks.
John Miller
Folks who don't do nest checks cannot say for sure how many pairs they have. I'm sorry, but just seeing a bunch of birds does not equal a full house. You probably have some nests.
that said, I'm grateful for anyone who hosts martins, whether they do nest checks or not. But I try and try to tell people that if they can only do one nest check per season, to try and lower soon after the babies have hatched and treat for mites. Otherwise, some years mites really weaken the babies and many fewer actually fledge.
Now, as a wooden house works for you, I'd consider another. But be aware that most today have deep compartments and you may then get hit by starlings with round hole entrances, so you may want SREH entrances on your next house. I assume this one has 6 x 6 units, or smaller, which are less favored by starlings. I'd look at the Trendsetter's wooden "cedar suites" house, and after no longer being annoyed with me -- by next year -- consider at least some nest checks.
John Miller
good luck to you if you decide on a new house that sounds exciting!-
tonyg
- Posts: 1520
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:16 pm
- Location: Olpe, KS
- Martin Colony History: 22 year landlord, 14 at current residence..offering 9 racks and a homemade T-8 for 166 total cavities. 160 Pair in 2018 Racks consist of a Deluxe 12, AAA 16, Starburst 16, 2 K-18 Series, Super 24, 2 Gemini, Multi-purpose/two trio’s/4gourds and a T-8..Great hobby to be involved in..
What John Miller said!!! 
22 year landlord..9 Rack Systems for 2018 and my home built T-8 for a total of 166 cavities..160 pair in 2018 ..SUPER COLONY!!! Love You Bev... Fan of those St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!
One thing to add - there are a lot of landlords out there, that successfully host many Martins every year, keep sparrows and starlings out, and don't perform nest checks.
I try to look at the positives.
+ A Martin house, that is kept free of sparrows and starlings
++ the above, plus it is also successfully hosting Martins
+++ the above, plus nest checks are conducted during the breeding season
One thing's for sure - for most of us, conducting nest checks (and the frequency of them), is directly related to the level of ease (or difficulty) involved in raising/lowering a system, and accessing the compartments.
Having a system that is very easy to do all of this, will needless to say result in a more enjoyable nest check experience, which will also most likely lead to more frequent checks.
I'll bet there are a lot of great Martin landlords like Mike out there, that would engage in nest checks, once they have a system that makes it an enjoyable thing to do.
I try to look at the positives.
+ A Martin house, that is kept free of sparrows and starlings
++ the above, plus it is also successfully hosting Martins
+++ the above, plus nest checks are conducted during the breeding season
One thing's for sure - for most of us, conducting nest checks (and the frequency of them), is directly related to the level of ease (or difficulty) involved in raising/lowering a system, and accessing the compartments.
Having a system that is very easy to do all of this, will needless to say result in a more enjoyable nest check experience, which will also most likely lead to more frequent checks.
I'll bet there are a lot of great Martin landlords like Mike out there, that would engage in nest checks, once they have a system that makes it an enjoyable thing to do.
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taxidermy lady
- Posts: 2988
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:21 am
- Location: IL/Ellis Grove
- Martin Colony History: Started trying to attract purple martins in 2012! It's finally happened in 2017! 5 years!!! ASY male and SY female came May 1st, fledged 5 babies!
You bet Matt, all of mine will be like that. The expandable gourd rack I have is so smooth, no effort.
I am going to try that trio thing ( I think) with a winch! SREH and change to 6 compartments. There's a lot of those kind in these parts of the country! Maybe the females around here our trio females! I hope!
We all need that when we reach an age we can not lower those hard to lower poles!
I am going to try that trio thing ( I think) with a winch!
SREH and change to 6 compartments. There's a lot of those kind in these parts of the country! Maybe the females around here our trio females! I hope!We all need that when we reach an age we can not lower those hard to lower poles!
Sharon from southern Illinois
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MamaBruff
- Posts: 1466
- Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:21 pm
- Location: SW Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Yes, I agree too! When we moved to the country 18 mo ago, there was a big plastic purple martin house in the backyard. Great!... Uh, not so great at second glance... Round holes, 16 tiny rooms, house didn't open, and it was mounted 16 ft high on a stationary 3" painted metal water pipe. YUCK. It was taken down as soon as the ink dried on the real estate contract! 
~Mary B~
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.
Lifelong PM Admirer and Nature Enthusiast.
Ruthless trapper of S&S year round.
2013-2016 Unsuccessful at starting a PM colony. Health problems.
Rehomed all my PM stuff. Good Luck and Best Wishes to All.