OK, at the risk of sounding lazy (I'm not), do any of your leave your Troyer-type synthetic gourds out in the elements all winter? Would seem for those of us short on storage space, the winter weather wouldn't be much harder on 'em than the summer sun.
Thoughts??
leaving gourds up?
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tlragsdale
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:22 pm
- Location: Wisconsin/New Richmond
Terry & Michelle
New Richmond, WI
2005 - 2014 Hard luck stories
2015 - 2 pair, 12 eggs/12 fledglings
2016 - 6 pair, 35 eggs/35 fledged
2017 - 18 pair, 88 eggs / 85 fledged.
2018 - 23 pair, 119 eggs/115 fledged.
2019 - 31 pair, 137 eggs/133 fledged
New Richmond, WI
2005 - 2014 Hard luck stories
2015 - 2 pair, 12 eggs/12 fledglings
2016 - 6 pair, 35 eggs/35 fledged
2017 - 18 pair, 88 eggs / 85 fledged.
2018 - 23 pair, 119 eggs/115 fledged.
2019 - 31 pair, 137 eggs/133 fledged
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Ed Svetich-WI
- Posts: 815
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
- Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
- Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.
The elements will eventually wear on the plastic gourds. I have both Super and Excluder Gourds that I remove each year, clean thoroughly and store out of the weather. It makes sense to remove encrusted feces, remaining vermin and other detrius and begin each season with a clean environment for returning martins. It does not take long.
If for no other reason, clean and store them and they will last longer. They are not inexpensive to replace. Think of the money you will save by making them last longer. I also remove the gourd poles, check for wear,clean and oil them and store in the garage.
Ed
If for no other reason, clean and store them and they will last longer. They are not inexpensive to replace. Think of the money you will save by making them last longer. I also remove the gourd poles, check for wear,clean and oil them and store in the garage.
Ed
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tlragsdale
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:22 pm
- Location: Wisconsin/New Richmond
Thanks, Ed, for the note. Yep, I'm sure out of the elements for half the year makes 'em last longer…..it's just that storage issue. Last year, all the Troyers were under the ping-pong table in the basement. Made looking for those smash-shots from my wife harder to find 
.
Thanks, again, for the note.
.Thanks, again, for the note.
Terry & Michelle
New Richmond, WI
2005 - 2014 Hard luck stories
2015 - 2 pair, 12 eggs/12 fledglings
2016 - 6 pair, 35 eggs/35 fledged
2017 - 18 pair, 88 eggs / 85 fledged.
2018 - 23 pair, 119 eggs/115 fledged.
2019 - 31 pair, 137 eggs/133 fledged
New Richmond, WI
2005 - 2014 Hard luck stories
2015 - 2 pair, 12 eggs/12 fledglings
2016 - 6 pair, 35 eggs/35 fledged
2017 - 18 pair, 88 eggs / 85 fledged.
2018 - 23 pair, 119 eggs/115 fledged.
2019 - 31 pair, 137 eggs/133 fledged
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Daryl Lindstrom - MN
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:03 pm
- Location: Rock Creek, MN
Terry and Michelle,
I manage several public colonies. I currently have 224 plastic Excluder Gourds up. Some of them have been up for nearly 10 years. I have never stored them indoors. I haven't noticed any issues with the gourds... wash them up and they look good as new! The older style caps on the other hand became brittle and chalky. I have since changed all of them to the Troyer Heavy-Duty caps... I expect them to last many years in the elements. While storing the gourds indoors through the winter would be ideal, I haven't had any problems leaving them out! I certainly don't have storage room for over 200 gourds! ; )
I manage several public colonies. I currently have 224 plastic Excluder Gourds up. Some of them have been up for nearly 10 years. I have never stored them indoors. I haven't noticed any issues with the gourds... wash them up and they look good as new! The older style caps on the other hand became brittle and chalky. I have since changed all of them to the Troyer Heavy-Duty caps... I expect them to last many years in the elements. While storing the gourds indoors through the winter would be ideal, I haven't had any problems leaving them out! I certainly don't have storage room for over 200 gourds! ; )
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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..
I clean and store my 128 gourds on hooks in my garage in the rafters ..at $15/18 apiece for most of them, I want them to last as long as they can...
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!!!!!
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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!
I want to put mine up right now. But just waiting for my next visitors. I have had martins circle then leave for several weeks now. Guess they are checking to see if anyone is here! Then they go off. Good luck! 
Sharon from southern Illinois