Troyer Gourds Cracking

[James Strickland FL]

I just was looking at my Troyer Gourds and they are stating to crack where they are mounted on the front next to the retaining pin . Has anyone seen this happening in yours? This maybe the last year I can use them.

[Sharon - Central TX]

James,
Contact Andy Troyer and tell him about it. Who knows, he may even help you out some. He has been very gracious whenever my husband has called him, no matter the issue.

[dhjohnson]

Hi James,
Love reading about your growing colony!
We have Troyer Horizontals and verticals on our racks for 4 years with zero cracking, splitting or other issues. Our only complaint has been moisture wicking in causing mildew and some wet nests leading to mites and mildew. No structural issues. Last year we tried installing a flexible tubing on either side of the mounting hole, and using a lock collar to depress or squeeze the tubing against the mounting holes. Great success with this simple modification. No water, no mites and all fledged 6 and one 7 clutch of nestlings! I love the troyer gourds...but I think this year we will need to introduce a safety tunnel on the troyer gourds to give flecglings a chance against hawk raids! An evolutionary challenge!
Wishing you a great season!
Debbie

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Yes, The plastic seems to bend upwards a little right at the end and some develope a small crack, in addition to that the hole gets enlarged over time. You can carefully file out the opening to take a copper sleeve, use type L 3/8 ID, and seal with adhesive or caulk, measure carefully because there isn't much room, makes a nice water tight seal.
Ray

[James Strickland FL]

Thanks everyone and I will look at making one of the repairs. I really enjoy the gourds and my martins love them.

[Rodger Drye]

Hi James,
Please let me know how you make out with the modifications. This being the first year I will be using Troyer Horizontals, I will be looking for cracks and or any leaking. I've already installed two 3/4" elbows in the top rear, like you showed me was on yours. I've got 6 with porches, and 6 with cling plates. I know you said your Birds like them both. I hope my Birds will like both types too.
Rodger

[Steve Kroenke]

Hey James,

I use several hundred Troyer Horizontal Gourds and there are a few which have some cracking around the hanging hole. I don't think the entire area will crack and mine just show a small crack on the edge of the upper part of the hanging hole. However, the vast majority are OK.

Here is a link to a post of mine dealing with water-proofing the hanging hole of Troyer Horizontal Gourds. This method would also reinforce the plastic around the hanging hole. I didn't get a chance to make this modification on all my Troyer Horizontal Gourds, but perhaps I can do so in the future. I used some old copper tubing, but PVC would be cheaper and probably easier to use. One of the photos shows a small amount of cracking around a hanging hole of a Troyer Horizontal Gourd. The cracking never progressed any further.

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... al#p236461

I hope this information will be helpful to you.

Steve

[Rodger Drye]

Hey Steve,
Thanks so much for the invaluable info. I think I will try the PVC with Silicon. I know they make some new water pipe called PEX which is very flexible and expandable. Will look into it, but don't know if it will work for this type project. Wonder how the Silicon grommets ever worked out?
Rodger

[James Strickland FL]

Thanks Steve and I will do the Mod in the down season. I really like the Troyer Gourds and would hate not having a few in my set-up.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

I had an accident with 2 of my Troyer gourds mounted on T-14 gourd mounting arms, the gourds were pushed back on the arm and past the swaged stop point. The swaged stop was stuck inside the hanging hole of the gourd, I couldn’t remove the gourds even with 2 people pulling. I finally cut a slit along top length of the mounting hole to get them off, then used 3/8 ID copper tube and sealed everything with PL adhesive/white paint over repair, It worked perfectly all last season and looked good as new when I took them down. Pex didn’t work for the tube, inside diameter was too tight for GMA, cvpc would work though. What I like about the tube method is it completely isolates the hanging hole from any leakage into the gourd.

[Rodger Drye]

Hi Ray,
Thanks for the info. Will not attempt to use the PEX. What is cvpc? Is it anything like PVC, and where can you get it?
Rodger

[Dave Duit]

No problems with any of my Troyer horizontals. But, I will definitely keep Rays suggestion of 3/8 copper sleeve in mind in the need should appear.

[~Ray~Gingerich]

Sorry Rodger, I got those letters mixed around, it was CPVC 1/2" LOL

[Rodger Drye]

Ray I think I'll go with the 1/2" PVC and white Silicon. That's a lot cheaper than copper and should do the same job of keeping water out of gourd.
Rodger