Heath House Modification

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Kyler
Posts: 899
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 10:15 pm
Location: Colby, Kansas
Martin Colony History: PMCA Member - Project MartinWatch - Enlarged Compartments - SREH - S&S Control - Mite Control - Predator Guards - Heat Control ( Vents and Insulation ) - Supplemental Feeding -

Manage 7 different colonies in Colby Kansas.

Alright now I finally have my grandpas house done. I put access ports and enlarged the compartments. I do have the porches in now but this is before. We will see what happens.

Image

Kyler,
Purple Martin Landlords of Northwest KS
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC9HDLGlbCmSYcSExIySwUQA

2013 - 0 Pair -
2014 - 1 Pair -
2015 - 0 Pair -
2016 - 5 Pair -
2017 - 18 Pair -
2018 - 22 Pair -
2019 - 28 Pair -
2020 - 40 Pair -
2021 - 40 Pair -
C.C.Martins
Posts: 3368
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
Location: Corpus Christi Tx
Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.

Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member

Kyler, I like the large caps, great access idea. I recently modified one for a friend, because of the heat here I insulated the underside of the roof, drilled holes in 4 roof panels and inserted .5 inch elbow vents; same vents are on the interior to vent the nest compartment. I used the same insulation on the inner walls. Made it so that the roof comes off in one piece (stole the idea from the Trip castle set up) all secured with threaded rods...very little extra weight.

I did what you did with the plastic tip, used it as a perch but it was a bit wobble so one easy modification that their birds seemed to enjoy: We removed the cap on the very top, inserted a thick dowel rod into the pole; fit like a glove. Enlarged the cap screw hole and put that over the dowel snug against the roof peak so it keeps the rain out. Drilled holes in the top of the dowel and inserted smaller dowels for perches like an old TV antenna. Zip tied some perches to the underside and called it good.

Tom
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
Kyler
Posts: 899
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 10:15 pm
Location: Colby, Kansas
Martin Colony History: PMCA Member - Project MartinWatch - Enlarged Compartments - SREH - S&S Control - Mite Control - Predator Guards - Heat Control ( Vents and Insulation ) - Supplemental Feeding -

Manage 7 different colonies in Colby Kansas.

Tom,
Yes my grandpa actually did that to the top. I’m planning on making a better one for this year. Probably use PVC.

Kyler,
Purple Martin Landlords of Northwest KS
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC9HDLGlbCmSYcSExIySwUQA

2013 - 0 Pair -
2014 - 1 Pair -
2015 - 0 Pair -
2016 - 5 Pair -
2017 - 18 Pair -
2018 - 22 Pair -
2019 - 28 Pair -
2020 - 40 Pair -
2021 - 40 Pair -
MartinStudent
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 8:24 pm
Location: Mississippi

Hi there, Kyler!

Great job on modifying with the large caps for access. We're looking to modify our Heath house too and replace those brittle access doors. Can you tell me how you did the caps? I'm a newbie and am greatly interested in any and all things that help out PMs.

thank you in advance.
Animal Lover. Voice for animals. Purple Martin Landlord Wannabe. Proponent for large cavities. :grin:
MartinStudent
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 8:24 pm
Location: Mississippi

Hello Tom!
Forget the stupidity of this question. From a newbie, no PMs yet, first time and waiting to become a Landlord, how did you insulate the Heath roof? We're looking into modifying ours and would love to know.

thanks so much!
Animal Lover. Voice for animals. Purple Martin Landlord Wannabe. Proponent for large cavities. :grin:
flyin-lowe
Posts: 3789
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

Many people will get a sheet of Styrofoam/insulation board from a hardware store and glue it to the "ceiling" of the house.
2026 HOSP 27
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
Anthony Neira
Posts: 1319
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Location: San Antonio /Texas
Martin Colony History: Started in 1992 From neighbors old 1950-60's colonies. Have 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 4 MPP Poles, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals ,& 2 S&K 11" WITH Troyer Porches ready for 2019 Season !

Great Idea ! Kyler , would adding Tunnels make Too Much Room ? :???: :grin:
PMCA Member, 8 Trio 6 Room Houses, 1 Heath Deluxe Gourd with Troyer Porch, 8 NatureLine Gourds with Troyer Porches, 5 Troyer Horizontals + Tunnels, & 2 S&K Bo 11"s WITH Troyer Porches ! 4 MPPs, For 2019 Season !! :grin: Started in 1992 from Older '50-'60s Colonies.
C.C.Martins
Posts: 3368
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
Location: Corpus Christi Tx
Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.

Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member

Martinstudent,
sorry for the delay; and there are zero dumb questions here! welcome!! I used Reflectix Roll Insulation can get it at Lowes. I put the lid together separately, screwed it all together, sealed the panels for water tightness, and flipped it upside down. then cut the insulation to fit the underside panels, cut it to just where the lid and the upper compartment walls meet. I used the metallic silver duct tape to secure it to the aluminum and used a bit of liquid nails to keep it from bubbling up.
For the outer walls I have 1/4 inch foam board insulation on the inside to keep that heat out. it turned out very nice. I used threaded metal rods to hold the lid down to the upper porch, one on each corner. Just have to drill a small hole on the first porch and the lid so they line up and slide them in...the lid holds down beautifully. heres a picture of one side, you'll get the idea I think. the other is the whole thing before we put it up. the black circles on the caps are the round louvered vents...just taped over for the time being.
Tom
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A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
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