Gourd advice

[Thomas Maddox]

For the first time, I've added 4 gourds to the bottom of my 16 compartment house. I was gifted 3 B0 9s which I added porches and cooling caps(I'm in SWLA). I bought a 4th Troyer vertical. A new pair of PMs seemed to have chosen the Troyer. A second pair occasionally check out 1 of the Bo 9s. I got a great deal on 3 more Troyer verticals. Should I switch out the 3 other gourds or just wait until next year. Last year I had 3 pair. This year I have 4-5 pairs. Thoughts and thanks!

[defed]

i'd say if nobody is using them, it should be fine to switch them. on the other hand, i'm always paranoid about changing something after they are here in fear (however irrational) they will leave. i did mount my blink solar panel and install the camera after they were at my place last year, and they didn't care.

[flyin-lowe]

As much as I wanted the Bo 9 gourds to work I just didn't have any luck with them. For the price and the cooling cap, tunnel etc. I bought quire a few of them and had them mixed in with my other gourds on my AAA gourd rack. Never once had a pair choose them and as I gradually replaced them the new gourds were occupied. Troyer gourds are pricy these days but will last a very long time.

[Phil01]

I’m a huge fan of Troyer gourds. If no one is using the Bo 9’s I’d switch them out… My 2 cents for what it’s worth…
Phil

[Jones4381]

Retired my Bo9's this year. Last year I had a few SY's build nest and even eggs laid in two of them but never hatched, felt they were to small for my liking. I went over to the SK BoAxis gourds which are a take on the Troyer horizontals and both are an improvement over the Bo9's.. Cooling cap and porch included for under 20.00. Pretty good deal...

[SSMartin]

I got a bunch of the boaxis when they had the sale. I set them all up horizontal and realized they don’t fit on my racks. I was less than happy.

My brain started working again and I realized they fit perfectly in the horizontal setting. I put 18 up and now we shall see how they hold up. Much thinner then troyer but also were a lot more affordable.

[Thomas Maddox]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will switch out 2 of the 3 and leave the 3rd Bo that is being visited(for now anyway).

[Spiderman]

That’s how I ended up with 82 Troyer horizontals, it’s just what they prefer.

Over the years I started out with wooden houses then metal houses but when I started using gourds they were always occupied first.

Also I didn’t have any problems with sparrows like in the houses.

[Thomas Maddox]

Spiderman, you prefer the horizontals over the verticals? HOSPS don't like gourds?

[jhcox]

The Bo9S were the first gourds i bought. They have been up for about 8 years they are holding up very well considering the fact that i never take mine down to store for the winter. I just lower the racks all the way down and leave them. The first nesting pair i ever had chose the Bo9 and they are usually chosen first ever year. Even though i have Troyer horizontal gourds, Vertical super gourds, and the S&K barn style house. Variety is the spice of life!! So i think it just depends on what the individual martins like. I would suggest that if you do take them down. Place them on Sheppard's hooks around your colony for the tree swallows to use that way they wont try to use the martin housing. Good luck this year everyone.

God Bless!!
JHCox Heiskell Tn

[Thomas Maddox]

Thanks J! Unfortunately, we don't have tree swallows here. We do have plenty of HOSPS and Starlings! I have a BB house that currently has 5 bb eggs and another BB house that has 5 Tufted titmouse eggs!

[jhcox]

Hang them on the shepherds poles for the other small song birds in the area. They will find them.

[Spiderman]

Spiderman, you prefer the horizontals over the verticals? HOSPS don't like gourds?

A friend recommended horizontals and they seemed to work, never bought any vertical gourds.

In the houses I had problems with sparrows in the horizontal gourds I don’t, can't really explain why.

Also it fixed the problem of Martins dominating a row of nests like with the houses,reducing the number of pairs I could have.

[jhcox]

i tend to have house sparrows trying to nest in my Troyer Horizontal gourds every year. And it seems like there are always one or two pairs of starling that are able to enter the SREH. I just keep tearing the nest out and busting the eggs. They eventually get the picture and move on.