Heath Octagon Houses - Good or Bad?
Can anyone give me their advice on Heath Purple Martin houses based on their experience with them? Personally I would rather spend my money on something else, but in my area (Houston), everyone with a Heath octagon house have martins so I know the birds are attracted to it, and as a result was thinking it might be smarter for me to go with that setup. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
There are a few issues with the Heath house, most important one being that there is no access to compartments (other then flipping floors down) so you cannot conduct nest checks or monitor the nests, cannot use traps to capture house sparrows or starlings.
Here's a list of what to look for in a martin house: http://www.purplemartin.org/downloads/H ... ndards.pdf
I think Texas has more martins, and they cannot be as picky as they might about choosing houses. You might look at gourd racks and some other houses that are more 'landlord-friendly'
Here's a list of what to look for in a martin house: http://www.purplemartin.org/downloads/H ... ndards.pdf
I think Texas has more martins, and they cannot be as picky as they might about choosing houses. You might look at gourd racks and some other houses that are more 'landlord-friendly'
Hi ck40711,
Great work doing some recon of your area, to see what kind of housing is in use by active colonies.
Like Louise mentioned, one thing about the Houston area (and many other southern locations) is you can't go wrong with either housing, or gourds, so I wouldn't feel too locked into any one type of housing.
That said, if there are other active colonies near you that are using that type of housing, there may be a bit of an advantage for someone trying to start a colony, by using similar housing the Martins in that area are used to.
If I were going with a hexagonal house, I would go for the Trio/Nature House Castles (either the 12-room mini, or the big 24-room).
They are the same hexagonal layout, and general appearance of the Heath units, but are much more management friendly.
Great work doing some recon of your area, to see what kind of housing is in use by active colonies.
Like Louise mentioned, one thing about the Houston area (and many other southern locations) is you can't go wrong with either housing, or gourds, so I wouldn't feel too locked into any one type of housing.
That said, if there are other active colonies near you that are using that type of housing, there may be a bit of an advantage for someone trying to start a colony, by using similar housing the Martins in that area are used to.
If I were going with a hexagonal house, I would go for the Trio/Nature House Castles (either the 12-room mini, or the big 24-room).
They are the same hexagonal layout, and general appearance of the Heath units, but are much more management friendly.
My neighbor has a perfect site with a 3 story 18 room Heath with round holes.
It's unmanaged and stays up year round.
She has 2 pair of Martins this season and the rest are full time EHS hotel rooms.
If you offer better housing that the Martins feel safer using, you will probably steal quite a few from your neighbors.
Being able to easily and quickly raise and lower your housing is a BIG plus when things go wrong.
It's unmanaged and stays up year round.
She has 2 pair of Martins this season and the rest are full time EHS hotel rooms.
If you offer better housing that the Martins feel safer using, you will probably steal quite a few from your neighbors.
Being able to easily and quickly raise and lower your housing is a BIG plus when things go wrong.
Cheers,
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
Joe
2015 - 40 cavities - 37 pair - fledged 172
2016 - 40 cavities - 38 pair - fledged 192
Hosting Purple Martins since 1976...Managing since 2006.
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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.
If you can afford something more than a Heath house, I have to second Matt's recommendation.
In addition to the superior materials and design, the Trio/Nature House Mini Castle or Castle has many accessories which make landlording much easier: Spare-O-Door, etc. The Spare-O-Door is invaluable for controlling sparrow in Trio/Nature House houses.
Mark.
In addition to the superior materials and design, the Trio/Nature House Mini Castle or Castle has many accessories which make landlording much easier: Spare-O-Door, etc. The Spare-O-Door is invaluable for controlling sparrow in Trio/Nature House houses.
Mark.
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.
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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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..
Hunk of Junk....
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!!!!!