Supplemental feeding May 20th in Ks ..

[tonyg]

Cool temps and rain have caused several of us K's landlords to feed lately! Normal temps should be in the 70's but it's been 50's with north winds and damp weather..today went outside and I'm assuming all my Martins ( over 100 plus) started hovering over me..thawed 2 bags of crickets, 2 bags of meal worms and cooked a dozen eggs..flipped awhile and then threw a bunch in my roof and they fed there..supposed to be high 60's today, hopefully they will feed..storms return for the weekend.. After last weekend storm damage and loss of eggs, I'm concerned what these cool temps have done with my remaining eggs and 5 nestlings..will check tomorrow...

[DebA]

Tony,
I fed yesterday as well. They were hungry. I have about 30 birds overhead. I see the sun through my window this morning!
Deb

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Tony, although temps were in the low 50's, I also had to supplemental feed yesterday. It was so damp and misty, there were no flying insects for the martins to feed upon. Being the first day unable to feed, I wasn't too concerned about my adults or even the females sitting on eggs. I was concerned about the one nest I have with five nine day old nestlings.

I thawed out 100 crickets in the morning and not one of them hit the ground while I was flipping. Thawed out another 100 and placed them in the feeding tray. I noticed the male with nestlings go to the tray and take the cricket back to the nest. I was curious so I continued to watch the male. I observed him make 31 non-stop trips from the feeding tray back to the nest to feed his five nestlings. His mate stayed in the nest the whole time so possibly he was also feeding her. Late evening, I put out another 100 crickets in the feeding tray and both the male and female were non-stop in taking crickets back to the nest. My other martins were also feeding from the tray. I really had no idea the nestlings would eat that many crickets at one time. I also noticed that EVERY time the parents would pick up a cricket from the feeding tray, they would spend a few seconds getting the cricket positioned just right in their beak to feed the nestlings.

Here is a picture on one of the parents getting a cricket to feed to the nestlings.

[DornCounty]

I haven't fed yet.. the martins looks a little worn but not terrible yet.

forecast today looks pretty good, birds should be able to feed all day. My only concern is how the eggs have handled things.

[KathyF]

Good luck Tony - yes , we're feeding here too!

[SMJohnson]

Where can you find the best price for 3 to 5,000 cricks? What would that price be?

[Ed Pace]

Good thread Tony G ,Even if the birds are not in dire stress it's still a good time and opportunity to teach the birds how to feed . It can only come in handy later down the road , if not this year maybe next.
Ed

[DebA]

So true, Ed! I have some new birds I am sure and they all fell into the hunt. Quickly. It is nice to train and keep them trained. Besides feeling so close to your birds.

I am going to post because it was on here that I learned where to go for crickets...I use flukerfarms.com. 1,000 crickets are $14.90. I buy the 3/4" size so there is a dollar more charge. They offer overnight shipping for around $25. So it is cheaper to get two boxes and pay the same shipping. But they now offer USPS priority shipping for $8 something. I use this. Even though they may arrive not as alive I don't care I go right to the deep freeze. I did this with my previous order and the dead crickets look just like the expensive shipping to me when I opened the box plus the martins ate them up.

Ordering online with shipping costs .02475 per cricket vs. .14 per cricket (a few years ago so might be higher) at a local big box pet shop is much better. Another site people seem to use is reptile.com or something like that.

Deb

[art]

Here in southwest Kansas (where the wind never stops) I am worried. Last Sunday I had five nests with eggs. The past three days have been nasty and today just as bad. Last Sunday I estimated 16-18 martins between the two wood houses (25 apts). The last few days as few as maybe six have been around. I tried supplemental feeder as few years ago during a brief cold spell without much success (the wind kept blowing the crickets out of the tray and flipping didn't get their attention). It is my fault for not pursuing supplemental feeding in a more serious manner. I don't know what the outcome will be regarding my current situation but I've learned my lesson and hope that my birds return and the current egg situation not too dire.

2014 (13 nesting attempts)

[DebA]

Art,
At a time it isn't raining so you don't flush them into the rain or drizzle you could drop your house and place crickets or scrambled eggs onto their porch or just inside their entrances. If hungry they will eat and appreciate it.

For eggs...how I do it: Scramble a couple. I cook on a non-stick skillet. Do NOT add oil or nonstick spray. Pour out the eggs and splash a little water on it. Put a lid over the egg. It will quickly cook/poach kind of and fluff up. Slide out onto a cutting board. Cool a sec and start slicing long strips. I cut most pieces about a quarter inch or so. Good to go.

Yesterday here in Pratt county it was warm enough, dry and wind was lower, for them to feed on their own. But as I said on another thread by Sunday if it is still yucky I will be flipping. We have new babies to feed.

Deb

[Ed Pace]

Bravo Debbie, I have taught a couple of my friends how to supplemental feed and their birds are doing it, it's just my own birds that I am not able to teach. I think it's because they have a lot of birds and I only have a few ,anyway I'm still working at it.
Ed

[DebA]

Yeah I didn't wait until Sunday I flipped twice today super amounts. Then I put eggs and later crickets on their porches for babies that just hatched in the past 2-3 days. So my birds are thrilled that I am offering.
Deb

[tonyg]

SM Johnson, I use Reptile.Com for ordering my Crickets,..$12.90 per thousand ..also learned of new place called Georgia Crickets, believe price was $11.80 per thousand..placed order for 3000...$37.50 plus 15.50 shipping..first time I've tried them..will post later on quality..

[tonyg]

SM Johnson, I use Reptile.Com for ordering my Crickets,..$12.90 per thousand ..also learned of new place called Georgia Crickets, believe price was $11.80 per thousand..placed order for 3000...$37.50 plus 15.50 shipping..first time I've tried them..will post later on quality..

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Tony, I have already gone through half of my supply of crickets. We are forecasted for rain all day both today and tomorrow. It's going to be a challenge for parents to keep their nestlings alive and probably impossible without help via supplemental feeding. Need to order more crickets and just my luck, I saw this morning the price of eggs are going up.

Tim

[DornCounty]

Tim... I don't have a hatchling yet. Interesting. Should be a feeding opening midday for some good feeding

[DebA]

Yesterday I pulled out a nest tray with 4 babies. They are about 2 days old. They weren't moving and their heads were down. Kinda like the old stance we'd take as children in the school hallways during a tornado drill. I thought they were dead at first glance. I touch one and it moved slightly. I piled the crickets on their porch and others. I am so hopeful they are just super cold and conserving energy. But I don't know what I will find once this weather clears. :(

Deb

[art]

Friday afternoon I placed poached eggs on the porches (thanks Deb for your helpful suggestion) during a lull in the nasty weather. Five martins flew from the T-14 apartments as I lowered the unit. I saw one bird return within 20 minutes. The weather this Saturday morning is not helpful as another front moves through. I just hope the rest of my flock return from wherever they've gone once normal weather arrives.

[DebA]

Art, yesterday I flipped twice (lots) and then placed food as I said. This morning it was drizzly but not bad and as I went out to the barn to feed other animals the martins trailed me overhead. So I flipped tons and lowered the housing for eggs on the porches. There wasn't any food left on the houses. I am hopeful the babies got some and are ok. I didn't open the compartment today because I figured the cold air would be bad and my curiosity won't help anything at this point. I finished just in time for it to downpour now. I will feed again later if this weather breaks.

I so hope yours are eating what you have offered. All you can do is try.
Deb

[DornCounty]

I think I will try some eggs just for kicks this afternoon. Martins look good other than being cold and fed nearly all day yesterday.

Luckily first hatch isn't due until 5-26 for me.