Adding Gourds

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Badger
Posts: 51
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 3:37 pm
Location: Shenandoah Valley VA
Martin Colony History: Martin landlord since 2016. 48 super gourds all with crescent openings and porches.

I am going to add gourds to my 2 gourd racks. I have 8 per tier and i'll have 12 per tier after I add them. I have space to add them with out moving the gourds that are already there. Can I add them now even though my Martins are returning or wait until the season ends? I do not want to disrupt or confuse the Martins by adding them now. Thanks. . . . .
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

I don't think adding them now would be an issue for the martins. What type of gourd rack do you have? Is it designed to hold that many gourds. You just don't want to overload your racks.
2026 HOSP 26
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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Badger
Posts: 51
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 3:37 pm
Location: Shenandoah Valley VA
Martin Colony History: Martin landlord since 2016. 48 super gourds all with crescent openings and porches.

I have a Lonestar rack. 4 rods with cable running around the out side. Gourds hang from that. Next year I may upgrade to heaver rods. I don't think the added weight will be an issue. I upgraded my winch and installed heaver cable this year so i'm good with that. Big improvement over what I had.
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Badger
Posts: 51
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 3:37 pm
Location: Shenandoah Valley VA
Martin Colony History: Martin landlord since 2016. 48 super gourds all with crescent openings and porches.

I added the 16 gourds to my 2 racks. All is well. So I have 48 super gourds now. The Martins were not bothered one bit with me working under them. In fact they really like Blue Grass music. I had that playing on my Jeep and they sang along with it until I was done. Welp I'll just sit back and enjoy them now. Thanks for the input I got on this project.
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flyin-lowe
Posts: 3788
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
Location: Indiana/Henry Co.

I wasn't referring to the winch and cable, more the pole and rods. Depending on what size the pole is, extra gourds could be a problem depending on how many there are.
2026 HOSP 26
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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Badger
Posts: 51
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 3:37 pm
Location: Shenandoah Valley VA
Martin Colony History: Martin landlord since 2016. 48 super gourds all with crescent openings and porches.

The pole will not be a issue. The rods should hold the extra weight plus some but after this season is over I plan to upgrade the rods to angle iron and have them about 4" longer so I can space the gourds a little further apart which will help when I clean them. Then I should be good for many years
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