When should new house be added to colony?

RobertS · Fri Mar 11, 2022 10:06 am

I want to replace one of my old martin houses. I have heard rumors that a new house should not be installed until weeks after the main part of the colony arrives.
Is there any truth to that, or can a new house be installed at the same time as the older houses at the beginning of the season?

C.C.Martins · Fri Mar 11, 2022 2:04 pm

Hi Robert,
All iv ever heard is you can put up a new house at any time, its taking one down or replacing an older house with gourds for example, martins may have issue with. I think you want to expand vs taking one out? If so your fine, even if you want to phase out the old one, do it over a few seasons. Let them get established.
Taking a house down moving it and replacing it with a new one thats diffrent, you will have some upset martins.
I think you would be fine doing it before the martins arrive. Id rather that then after they arrive.
What are you going to put up?
Its interesting because I want to phase out a house, but year after year they fill this house first.

A new house, with a new look (replacing) an old one works but id suspect that would work best at an established colony.
Tom

deancamp · Fri Mar 11, 2022 3:32 pm

Robert, I have no personal experience with this but I can't imagine it would be a problem if your other old housing is still in place. I would think before they arrive would be much better than if you wait and some select that house and then you take it away from them. I have heard stories of housing being completely moved before they returned and it took a little time but they adapted. Keep us informed on what you do and how it works out.

Dave Reynolds · Fri Mar 11, 2022 10:22 pm

... RobertS ... Putting up new or different housing is fine, as long as you leave the older houses up... The Martins will get used to the new houses.. My friend passed away, and the new owners removed all the old house that were up and installed a large new T-14 house.. I watched the Martins return too only sit on the power lines, looking for there old houses.. The Martins would fly down to where the old houses were, and flutter around looking for their house.. Needless to say they lost the 15 year colony, now for three years.. Currently two friends of mine are trying to get the colony started again..

Dave

Spiderman · Sat Mar 12, 2022 8:40 am

Dave speaks the truth!

Asimon1006 · Mon Mar 28, 2022 9:53 am

I recently added a new house near my old one, and I am wondering if they would stop nest building and take to the new one? Anyone have insight on that? I did nest checks last week on old one and again yesterday and didnt see much progress.

deancamp · Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:06 am

I don't believe existing birds will switch housing after nest building. New birds coming in might start using it.

Asimon1006 · Mon Mar 28, 2022 11:20 am

deancamp wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:06 am
I don't believe existing birds will switch housing after nest building. New birds coming in might start using it.

Okay, that is what I thought also! That's good news for me!

Kegger · Tue Mar 29, 2022 8:32 am

I added a second 11cavities about a month later when I saw a bunch of south winds in the forecast. Earlier arrivals were probably
5 males from last year along with some females. Early males remained in their cavities but also checked out the new ones, 2
are reserving a second spot. New house has 3 different doors on plates. New house is 50% occupied by Martins not counting 2 cavities.
Original 11 cavities are full.

Badger · Tue Apr 05, 2022 7:49 am

A few years ago I had 1 pole with 16 gourds. I had such a good turnout in May I decided to add another pole with 16 gourds about 25' away from the first pole. The martins sat on the first pole and watched me install everything. I cleaned up my trash and looked in my mirror and the martins were all over the new one checking it out. I think at the end of the season I had 4 nest in the new gourds. So with your old one still up add a new pole anytime. Good luck with yours. . .