Gourds under Trendsetter

[CAK]

I’m looking to add 4 gourds under my trendsetter 16. Has anyone done this before? Current plan is to purchase universal gourd hanging arms and just attach to bottom of house. Appreciate any insight or experience with this.

[daveh]

I used the universal gourd hanging arms and plastic cutting board pieces, maybe 3x12 inch tomake the floor thicker where the arms are. Trendsetter floors are real thin and I thought it needed some reinforcement. I have 4 excluder gourds attached which are heavy gourds. I used small screws and bolts to attached. Did this in 2015. The cutting board was maybe 3/8 inches thick. Hope this helps.

Dave

[CAK]

Dave, thanks for the tip. That makes sense to reinforce the bottom of the house. Out of curiosity, have you noticed any housing preferences on gourds vs the trendsetter? Do the gourds fill up first?

[Whippy]

CAK,

I thought I posted this earlier but I don't see it here.

I purchased brackets and hung 4 troyer verticals under my T-14 for this year. I don't have any data yet to show which will be used the most, the gourds or the T-14 cavities. I make additions like this every year just to be doing stuff plus I like to have more cavities. But my response was mostly directed at the hardware and the gourds. With re-enforcement of the floor and proper placement and orientation of the gourds, you should experience success with the addition.

Hope to see pictures when you're all done with it.

Coolwhips

[daveh]

CAK, I don't think it matters what gourds I use under the trendsetter. The birds seem to like gourds more and more so I have gourds under all my housing. I've used excluder, Troyer vertical, and super gourds under the trendsetter. They like them all. Out of 22 plastic gourds total last year, 21 had been used. That's pretty normal around here.

Dave

[CAK]

Thanks again for the tips. I’ve heard gourds are preferred at most colonies that offer both housing types and have a high % occupancy rate. This will be my 3rd year at this site and went from 1 to 3 pairs the first two years. I have another 12 compartment quad-pod house without gourds underneath. So plenty of housing and will be interesting to see what the birds prefer. Had lots of unsuccessful subbies last year, at least three pair, that I’m scratching my head regarding why. Also interested if they’ll be back or try somewhere new.

[CAK]

Here’s a picture of the finished gourds under the trendsetter. Dave, I followed your instructions and reinforced the floor with 3”x6” by 3/8” thick waterproof vinyl pieces and it looks like it should last many seasons! First martin of the season arrived yesterday and he’s checked out every gourd already!

[Whippy]

Very nice work.

Your Martins will thank you for that.

I've seen a very large insertion of Martins in the area over the last few days and if this wind keeps up we will forget all about our anticipation of their arrival. We will be neck deep in them pretty soon.

I grew up at Forest and Marsh in the South East corner of that intersection (Shady Hill). My memory of my childhood always includes the Martins I would see every summer. They would fly around with the Chimney swifts in the evenings as we played in the front yard. We moved over to Royal Lane and Welch Rd when I was 14 and there weren't as many Martin houses in that area but I still enjoyed seeing them from time to time.

Good luck to you.

Coolwhips

[daveh]

CAK, nice job. I checked my 3x11 inch pieces of cutting board and gourd hangars this morning and it all looks good and solid. This will be year 7 for them.

Dave