T 14 house question

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Fuzzmeister
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:02 pm
Location: Saskatchewan Canada

Hellow every one I am thinking about building a T14 PM house. When I look at the design I noticed that on the porches there are no railings, in the event that a hatchling gets out of the entrance hole, and they fall on to the ground! So my question is do any of you that have one of these houses experience that problem? or do you put railings on them?
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Dan G
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: PA/Bellefonte
Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!

Most of the t14s I see do not have rails on the porches but I believe you could do so and the martins will be fine. In the event one falls or jumps, that is why nest checks are valuable. You know where to put him back, because you know how many nestlings and the ages of each cavity.
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

My houses came with railings on the balconies. They keep the chicks from falling off.



You could add them to your house, but I have no idea where to get the materials.

Toy in PA
Attachments
IMG_6401 July 12, 2016 House 2 Billys side Chicks Fledging.jpg
IMG_6401 July 12, 2016 House 2 Billys side Chicks Fledging.jpg (52.68 KiB) Viewed 8772 times
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Fuzzmeister
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:02 pm
Location: Saskatchewan Canada

Thanks for the reply guys. I thought it would be a safety issue that would help, I won’t really have time to do nest checks on a regular time schedule, due to the fact that I will be gone for a week at a time I was just wondering if any one had issues with this type of house with out railings. This is my first year as a landlord and don’t know a lot about the PM birds; just trying to save as many as I can!
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Fuzzmeister
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:02 pm
Location: Saskatchewan Canada

Toy in PA
What type of a pole do you have for your T 14 house and how high is it?
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Fuzzmeister wrote:Toy in PA
What type of a pole do you have for your T 14 house and how high is it?
I have the aluminum 3 inch square pole & winch the PMCA sells. It's 16 foot high installed. We set the winch about 3 feet off the ground to keep it out of the snow in winter. I also made covers for my houses.

This is the pole:

https://www.purplemartin.org/shop/produ ... -for-t-14/

You might find railing if you look for "Doll House Porch Railings". I would guess there would be something that would work. Also try craft stores that sell doll houses. Another option would be top use wood dowels & make railing. The rails should be close together to prevent a chicks head from getting thru & stuck. Here are photos of mine....Front & Side. Sorry I couldn't get better pics. It's raining today.



Toy in PA
Attachments
IMG_7303 Side Railing on balcony.jpg
IMG_7303 Side Railing on balcony.jpg (73.24 KiB) Viewed 8756 times
IMG_7304 Front Railing on balcony.jpg
IMG_7304 Front Railing on balcony.jpg (59.02 KiB) Viewed 8756 times
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3792
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

The rails won’t hurt be remember thousands and thousands of martins fledge from houses and gourds every year without any rails. I’m guessing with all the gourds and houses out there the majority don’t have any rails.
2026 HOSP 29
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.
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Fuzzmeister
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:02 pm
Location: Saskatchewan Canada

Thanks toy. I like those little vents that are on the sides of your house. Did your house come with these vents or did you install them?
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Fuzzmeister wrote:Thanks toy. I like those little vents that are on the sides of your house. Did your house come with these vents or did you install them?
We added them. 2 to each cavity.

I got them here. They have many styles:
http://www.ventmyhouse.com/categories/R ... fit-Vents/

These are the ones I bought:

http://www.ventmyhouse.com/products/2%2 ... -6%29.html

Toy in PA
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daveh
Posts: 761
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:40 am
Location: Kingsville Mo.

I got my 2 inch soffit vents for my T14 at Lowes. I think around the gutter and roof shingle area.

Dave
PMCA member
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Dave Duit
Posts: 2146
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
Location: Iowa / Nevada
Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to [email protected]. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.

I use those 2 inch soffit vents on my metal houses and on my Troyer Gourds. They keep the rain out and offer great air flow on hot days with a little breeze.
ImageMite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success.
ImageIPMO LOGO1.jpg
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TheSmiths
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 1:02 pm
Location: Western KY
Martin Colony History: •
•
Tried to attract PMs 2004; began more earnest attempt in 2014.

Current home site consisting of 2 modified Trio M12Ks, 4 ChirpyNests, and assorted artificial gourds, all enclosed in owl/hawk cages.

2018 — 3 pairs
2019 — 6 pairs
2020 — 12 pairs; barred owls late in season
2021 — 17 pairs; enclosed housing
2022 – 14 pairs
2023 – 18 pairs
2024 – 18 pairs
2025 – 24 pairs
2026 –

Manage FILs colony & public park colony. Attempting to start a colony at a wildlife refuge.

~20 years of providing housing for cavity nesting birds including Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Great-Crested Flycatchers, Northern Flickers, & Prothonotary Warblers.

What is your preferred method for attaching the vents?
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Hole saw. Drill the hole. Pop them in.

Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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marcus
Posts: 314
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 10:21 pm
Location: Fairland OK
Martin Colony History: Mom n Dad had a plastic 12 unit martin house with some martins as long as I can remember. In 2013 they had 1 pair. I don't think they fledged any. I then started learning how to take care of martins and in 2014 we took that house down and put up a Troyer 18 gourd rack. We had 7 pair with 28 fledged.That summer I built a T-14 (I was only 12). I was also given 4 natural gourds that I hung beneath the T-14. In 2015, we had 23 pair although only 22 pair fledged young. They fledged 88 young. In 2016, we had 36 pair, 210 eggs, 163 hatched, 149 fledge!! One pair fledged 2 broods. In 2017, I had 36 pair with 35 fledging young. They laid 204 eggs, hatched 155, and fledged 152.

I haven't had any issues with mine. Typically if they get on the porch they are about ready to fledge. (or jump)
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Fuzzmeister
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:02 pm
Location: Saskatchewan Canada

My neighbor has a PM house and every year he has 1 or 2 that fall out of the house on the ground and they are not ready to fledge, so since this is my first year as a landlord I want to try and prevent any from falling by putting on some railings.
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lynnh
Posts: 391
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:07 am
Location: Iowa, New Sharon

My experience porches with rails can cause problems because the young ones tend to come out earlier then they should . It may be a catch 22 if you know what I mean . But that's just my opinion .
2007 2 pair 8 fledged
2008 4 pair 18 fledged
2009 21 pair 87 fledged
2010 44 pair 174 fledged
2011 68 pair 244 fledged
2012 82 pair 364 fledged
2013 82 pair 359 fledged
2014 86 pair 415 fledged
2015 101 pair 427 fledged
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3792
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

Fuzzmeister wrote:My neighbor has a PM house and every year he has 1 or 2 that fall out of the house on the ground and they are not ready to fledge, so since this is my first year as a landlord I want to try and prevent any from falling by putting on some railings.
How hot does it get up there when this is happening. Usually them falling is actually them jumping, either due to excessive heat or mites.
2026 HOSP 29
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.
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marcus
Posts: 314
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 10:21 pm
Location: Fairland OK
Martin Colony History: Mom n Dad had a plastic 12 unit martin house with some martins as long as I can remember. In 2013 they had 1 pair. I don't think they fledged any. I then started learning how to take care of martins and in 2014 we took that house down and put up a Troyer 18 gourd rack. We had 7 pair with 28 fledged.That summer I built a T-14 (I was only 12). I was also given 4 natural gourds that I hung beneath the T-14. In 2015, we had 23 pair although only 22 pair fledged young. They fledged 88 young. In 2016, we had 36 pair, 210 eggs, 163 hatched, 149 fledge!! One pair fledged 2 broods. In 2017, I had 36 pair with 35 fledging young. They laid 204 eggs, hatched 155, and fledged 152.

Ya typically fully feathered young don't just fall out. Rather, they are intentionally jumping out. They are usually trying to escape heat or mites, but sometimes I believe they are just trying to fledge a little before they are ready.
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Fuzzmeister
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:02 pm
Location: Saskatchewan Canada

Well now that I think of that it does make sense, it is a older wooden house with 6x6 rooms and there is no ventilation system to get air flow through the rooms. I am going to put those 2 inch round vents in my T-14 house
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TheSmiths
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 1:02 pm
Location: Western KY
Martin Colony History: •
•
Tried to attract PMs 2004; began more earnest attempt in 2014.

Current home site consisting of 2 modified Trio M12Ks, 4 ChirpyNests, and assorted artificial gourds, all enclosed in owl/hawk cages.

2018 — 3 pairs
2019 — 6 pairs
2020 — 12 pairs; barred owls late in season
2021 — 17 pairs; enclosed housing
2022 – 14 pairs
2023 – 18 pairs
2024 – 18 pairs
2025 – 24 pairs
2026 –

Manage FILs colony & public park colony. Attempting to start a colony at a wildlife refuge.

~20 years of providing housing for cavity nesting birds including Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Great-Crested Flycatchers, Northern Flickers, & Prothonotary Warblers.

ToyinPA wrote:Hole saw. Drill the hole. Pop them in.
Toy in PA
No adhesive or caulk needed?
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